In this book the recent progress accumulated in studies of the interaction of engineered nanoparticles with cells and cellular constituents is presented. The focus is on manufacturing and characterization of nanosized materials, their interactions with biological molecules such as proteins, the mechanisms of transport across biological membranes as well as their effects on biological functions. Fundamental molecular and cellular aspects are in the foreground of the book. A further particularity is the interdisciplinary approach, including fields such as preparatory and analytical chemistry, biophysics and the physics of colloids, advanced microscopy and spectroscopy for in-situ detection of nanoparticles, cellular toxicology and nanomedicine. Nanoscale particles are known to exhibit novel and unprecedented properties that make them different from their corresponding bulk materials. As our ability to control these properties is further advanced, a huge potential to create materials with novel properties and applications emerges. Although the technological and economic benefits of nanomaterials are indisputable, concerns have also been raised that nanoscale structuring of materials might also induce negative health effects. Unfortunately, such negative health effects cannot be deduced from the known toxicity of the corresponding macroscopic material. As a result, there is a major gap in the knowledge necessary for assessing their risk to human health.

Nanoparticles have a physical dimension comparable to the size of molecular structures on the cell surface. Therefore, nanoparticles, compared to larger (e.g., micrometer) particles, are considered to behave differently when they interact with cells. Nanoparticles in the Lung: Environmental Exposure and Drug Delivery provides a better understanding of how inhaled nanoparticles behave in the human lungs and body. Featuring contributions from renowned subject-matter experts, this authoritative text describes the sequence of events that nanoparticles encounter in the lungs when moving from the air into the bloodstream. This includes deposition, interactions with the alveolar surface and epithelium, translocation across the air-blood tissue barrier, and accumulation in the body. In addition, the book addresses practical considerations for drug delivery to the respiratory tract, drug and gene delivery in the lungs, and bio-nanocapsules. It considers the physicochemical, colloidal, and transport properties of nanoparticles, and presents cutting-edge research on special issues such as dosimetry for in vitro nanotoxicology, nanoparticle deposition in the developing lungs, and the potential for nose-to-brain delivery of drugs. Nanoparticles in the Lung: Environmental Exposure and Drug Delivery offers the most updated and comprehensive knowledge of the risks and benefits associated with nanoparticle inhalation-to protect humans from any harmful effects and to explore the utility of nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers.

Why the "Second Edition" is the must-have guide for all pulmonologists and particle research scientists:
STAY INFORMED - nine brand new chapters cover recent developments and research, with several chapters focusing solely on the fast-developing area of man-made and naturally occurring nano-sized particles
GAIN FULL UNDERSTANDING OF ALL ASSOCIATED DISCIPLINES - including topics and concerns in pulmonology and respiratory medicine, toxicology, and environmental research
KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT as a disease progresses, from a distinguished team of over 40 experts who detail all stages of particle-lung interactions, from inhalation of particles to clearance from the organism
LEARN MORE ABOUT FREQUENTLY NEGLECTED TOPICS - such as the beneficial developments and uses of inhaled man-made particles and reduced side-effects of alternate therapies

Nanoparticles have a physical dimension comparable to the size of molecular structures on the cell surface. Therefore, nanoparticles, compared to larger (e.g., micrometer) particles, are considered to behave differently when they interact with cells. Nanoparticles in the Lung: Environmental Exposure and Drug Delivery provides a better understanding of how inhaled nanoparticles behave in the human lungs and body. Featuring contributions from renowned subject-matter experts, this authoritative text describes the sequence of events that nanoparticles encounter in the lungs when moving from the air into the bloodstream. This includes deposition, interactions with the alveolar surface and epithelium, translocation across the air-blood tissue barrier, and accumulation in the body. In addition, the book addresses practical considerations for drug delivery to the respiratory tract, drug and gene delivery in the lungs, and bio-nanocapsules. It considers the physicochemical, colloidal, and transport properties of nanoparticles, and presents cutting-edge research on special issues such as dosimetry for in vitro nanotoxicology, nanoparticle deposition in the developing lungs, and the potential for nose-to-brain delivery of drugs. Nanoparticles in the Lung: Environmental Exposure and Drug Delivery offers the most updated and comprehensive knowledge of the risks and benefits associated with nanoparticle inhalation-to protect humans from any harmful effects and to explore the utility of nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers.

In this book the recent progress accumulated in studies of the interaction of engineered nanoparticles with cells and cellular constituents is presented. The focus is on manufacturing and characterization of nanosized materials, their interactions with biological molecules such as proteins, the mechanisms of transport across biological membranes as well as their effects on biological functions. Fundamental molecular and cellular aspects are in the foreground of the book. A further particularity is the interdisciplinary approach, including fields such as preparatory and analytical chemistry, biophysics and the physics of colloids, advanced microscopy and spectroscopy for in-situ detection of nanoparticles, cellular toxicology and nanomedicine. Nanoscale particles are known to exhibit novel and unprecedented properties that make them different from their corresponding bulk materials. As our ability to control these properties is further advanced, a huge potential to create materials with novel properties and applications emerges. Although the technological and economic benefits of nanomaterials are indisputable, concerns have also been raised that nanoscale structuring of materials might also induce negative health effects. Unfortunately, such negative health effects cannot be deduced from the known toxicity of the corresponding macroscopic material. As a result, there is a major gap in the knowledge necessary for assessing their risk to human health.

Ein simples chemisches MolekA1/4l - CO2 - hat sich zu einer Verbindung von hAchster politischer und wirtschaftlicher Brisanz entwickelt. Die UniversitAt Bern fA1/4hrte im April 1995 in Interlaken ein internationales interdisziplinAres Symposium A1/4ber die CO2-Problematik, ihre mAglichen Auswirkungen auf das Klima, die Vegetation und die Gesellschaft durch. FA1/4hrende PersAnlichkeiten aus Wissenschaft, Politik, Wirtschaft und Affentlicher Verwaltung diskutieren A1/4ber globale ZusammenhAnge des Kohlenstoffkreislaufs zwischen Ozean und AtmosphAre, mAgliche Reaktionen der BiosphAre, Beeinflussung von Temperatur und Niederschlag, biologische und technische MAglichkeiten zur Gegensteuerung, sowie A1/4ber den Einsatz marktwirtschaftlicher Instrumente zur Reduktion des Treibhauseffektes.