Bionanomaterials: Definitions, sources, types, properties, toxicity, and regulations

Bionanomaterials are identified as a perfect replacement, in the quest for the search of an alternative to toxic conventional nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Bionanomaterials are the nanomaterials that are fabricated via biomolecules or encapsulate or immobilize a conventional nanomaterial with a biomolecule. The biomolecules extracted from the microbes, plants, agricultural wastes, insects, marine organisms, and certain animals are used for the formation of bionanomaterials. These bionanomaterials exhibited low or negligible toxicity toward humans, other organisms, and the environment with enhanced biocompatibility, bioavailability, and bioreactivity. Thus the aim of this chapter is to provide an extensive overview of bionanomaterials, their definitions, sources, types, and their properties. In addition, the toxicity of bionanomaterials and their regulations implied in recent times are also discussed.