Nanomaterials: Dispersion, Dissolution and Dose

This chapter will highlight the complex interrelationship between: the form of a nanoparticulate material dispersed in a particular medium; the resultant dissolution or transformation of the nanomaterials (NM) in that delivery medium; and the nature and degree of uptake of the NM by a particular cell or organism. We refer to this concept as the dispersion – dissolution – dose (DDD) relationship. We review the various techniques which are appropriate to determine each component of the DDD relationship in turn and show that either expert use of a single technique or combined use of a number of techniques including electron microscopy is required to quantify their interrelationship. In the long term quantification and importantly modelling of this DDD relationship will enable mechanistic understanding of exposure pathways and prediction of both toxicity and NM-based drug delivery.