Nanodetoxification: emerging role of nanomaterials in drug intoxication treatment

Abstract

Treatment for intoxication involves the neutralization or clearance of a toxic compound, but the current methods of treatment are limited in their ability to safely and effectively detoxify the patient. Emerging research has focused on using nanoparticles as parenteral detoxifying agents to circulate through the body and capture toxins. The variable compositions of these nanoparticles control the mechanism in which they capture and remove specific compounds. As discussed in this article, the recent methods for utilizing nanoparticles for detoxification show great potential for intoxication treatment. However, several challenges must be overcome before a universal nanoparticle detoxification method is available for clinical use.