Toxicological aspects and applications of nanoparticles in paediatric respiratory disease.

Most research in the area of micro- and nano-particles as applied to respiratory disease has been on potential toxic effects. Particulate emissions from industrial processes, coal burning and diesel exhaust have been shown to cause a variety of adverse effects both in vitro and in vivo. However, the vast majority of these studies has focused on larger, micron-sized particles. It is only within the last few years that the emphasis has shifted to nanoparticles as nanotechnology research and its applications have increased. Investigations have also begun into how nanoparticles may be used for therapeutic and imaging purposes in pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis. Some of these applications, along with recent studies on the toxic effects of nanoparticulate emissions will be reviewed in this article.