Abstract
Particles within the nanometer size regime (1–100 nm) exhibit properties across quantum and classical mechanics. An example of the quantum mechanical nature of some particles includes their ability to bend light and change color appearance in suspension. An example of the classical mechanical nature of some particles includes their tendency to agglomerate in suspension. Both of these phenomenons are extensively studied in the literature and are the subject of many research projects that examine the utility of nanoparticles in biomedical and environmental applications. However, these unique properties have also been shown to induce unintentional toxicological effects in various biological and ecological systems. In this paper, the applications and implications of engineered nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions will be reviewed and discussed relevant to the particle’s structure on the nanometer size scale and its subsequent biological activity at the cellular level.
