Synchrotron radiation techniques for nanotoxicology

Nanotoxicology studies the interactions of engineered nanomaterials with biological systems. Traditional in vitro and in vivo toxicological assays have been successfully employed. However, the toxicological mechanisms of nanoparticles might not be the same as those incurred in traditional molecular toxicology. Furthermore, how to realize in situ and real time measurements especially in the biological microenvironment is still a challenge. Synchrotron radiation, which is highly polarized and tunable, has been proved to play an indispensible role for nanotoxicology studies. In this review, the role of synchrotron radiation techniques is summarized in screening physicochemical characteristics, in vitro and in vivo behaviors, and ecotoxicological effects of engineered nanomaterials. From the Clinical Editor: The rapid gain in popularity of nanomaterials has also raised the concern of nanotoxicity, which needs to be assessed and addressed. In this comprehensive review, the authors outlined the underlying principles of using synchrotron radiation techniques for nanotoxicology studies and also in other scientific fields.