Facilitating Translational Nanomedicine via Predictive Safety Assessment

Extensive research on engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) has led to the development of numerous nano-based formulations for theranostic purposes. Although some nano-based drug delivery systems already exist on the market, growing numbers of newly designed ENMs exhibit improved physicochemical properties and are being assessed in preclinical stages. While these ENMs are designed to improve the efficacy of current nano-based therapeutic or imaging systems, it is necessary to thoroughly determine their safety profiles for successful clinical applications. As such, our aim in this mini-review is to discuss the current knowledge on predictive safety and structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of major ENMs at the developing stage, as well as the necessity of additional long-term toxicological analysis that would help to facilitate their transition into clinical practices. We focus on how the interaction of these nanomaterials with cells would trigger signaling pathways as molecular initiating events that lead to adverse outcomes. These mechanistic understandings would help to design safer ENMs with improved therapeutic efficacy in clinical settings.