Nanotoxicity: how the body develops a way to reduce the toxicity of carbon nanotubes

The interaction of nanoparticles with cells and organisms are often the focus of biomedical, material, and environmental research. This article highlights a paper by Yuliang Zhao, Chunying Chen, Ruhong Zhou, and co-workers (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2011, 108, 16968), which brings a new aspect to the discussion about purpose and mechanisms underlying the reaction of an organism with nanoparticles. The interactions of carbon nanotubes with cells were investigated with regard to the defense mechanisms of the body against foreign materials developed during evolution. Such mechanisms are not only important for nanotoxicity research, but also for targeting nanoparticles in medical applications. The cited article thus gives a new focus to an important aspect of nanotechnology, which will determine the application aspects of this technology in future: the approach of biological systems to nanosized particles.