News Release

Zinc oxide nanoparticles: Therapeutic benefits and toxicological hazards

The article by Dr. Said Said Elshama et al is published in The Open Nanomedicine Journal, Volume 5, 2018

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Bentham Science Publishers

Despite the widespread application of zinc oxide nanoparticles in biomedicine, their use is still a controversial issue. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were are reported to have therapeutic benefits. However, they were reported to have toxicological hazards as well. Several studies reported the antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Additionally, zinc oxide nanoparticles were are used in sunscreens. Furthermore, the ability to use zinc oxide nanoparticles as an adjuvant treatment to alleviate the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs has been reported. However, zinc oxide nanoparticles were shownare also known to induce toxic effects in different body organs and systems. The affected organs included include the liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, pancreas, heart and lungs. In addition, zinc oxide nanoparticles were have been reported to adversely affect the neurological system, lymphatic system, hematological indices, sex hormones levels, and fetal development. The toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles were basedare dependent on their concentration, their dose, the route of their administration, and the time of exposure to those particles. Thus, it is crucial to assess their efficacy and safety to determine their toxicological risks and therapeutic benefits.

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For more information about this article, please visit https://benthamopen.com/ABSTRACT/TONMJ-5-16

Reference: Elshama SS., (2018). Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Therapeutic Benefits and Toxicological Hazards. The Open Nanomedicine Journal, 2018. DOI: 10.2174/1875933501805010016


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