Pathophysiologic mechanisms of biomedical nanomaterials

• Rapid protein adsorption onto nanomaterials that affects biomedical effects
• Nanomaterials and their interaction with biological membrane, intracellular trafficking and specific cellular effects
• Nanomaterials and their interaction with biological barriers
• The signaling pathways mediated by nanomaterials and related biomedical effects
• Novel techniques for studying translocation and biomedical effects of NMs

Nanomaterials (NMs) have been widespread used in biomedical fields, daily consuming, and even food industry. It is crucial to understand the safety and biomedical efficacy of NMs. In this review, we summarized the recent progress about the physiological and pathological effects of NMs from several levels: protein-nano interface, NM-subcellular structures, and cell–cell interaction. We focused on the detailed information of nano-bio interaction, especially about protein adsorption, intracellular trafficking, biological barriers, and signaling pathways as well as the associated mechanism mediated by nanomaterials. We also introduced related analytical methods that are meaningful and helpful for biomedical effect studies in the future. We believe that knowledge about pathophysiologic effects of NMs is not only significant for rational design of medical NMs but also helps predict their safety and further improve their applications in the future.