Abstract

GUTIERREZ-ARAUJO, Melissa Isabel; VAZQUEZ-DUHALT, Rafael  and  JUAREZ-MORENO, Karla Oyuki. Macrophage cellular responses to metal oxide nanoparticles. Mundo nano [online]. 2021, vol.14, n.27, e00037.  Epub July 29, 2021. ISSN 2448-5691.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ceiich.24485691e.2021.27.69661.

Recently, metal oxide nanoparticles received special attention due to their broad spectrum of unique properties with applications in research and industry. Because of to the raising of the nanotechnology market, the synthesis and use of nanomaterials are expected to increase considerably in the coming years. Thus, it is crucial to test the effects of nanomaterial exposure in biological systems. To achieve this, nanotoxicology aims to evaluate nanomaterials’ toxicity that correlates to the physicochemical parameters such as size and shape. In this review, we focus on macrophages’ cellular responses exerted by their exposure to metal oxide nanoparticles. Since macrophages are the first cells to interact with nanoparticles once they enter the body, they are able to uptake them by different mechanisms. The interaction with some metal oxide nanoparticles causes an alteration in the expression of genes that modulate macrophages’ phenotype and functions. This modulation can be used for immunotherapy against cancer; however, it is of utmost importance to study whether this modulation leads to immunotoxicity, which directly impacts the primary functions of macrophages, and therefore the immune system.

Keywords : nanotoxicology; macrophages; toxicity; oxide metallic nanoparticles.