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The Nature of Complexity in the Biology of the Engineered Nanoscale Using Categorization as a Tool for Intelligent Development

Throughout the evolution of biological species on Earth, cells and organs have developed many complex structures and processes to ensure their interactions with individual chemical molecules (small and macromolecular) and nanoscale objects result in no harm. These evolutionary mechanisms complicate our attempts to use modern nanoscale science to develop effective and efficient treatments for disease or other biological dysfunctions. Here we describe the complexity of biology on the nanoscale and the implications for the success of recently-discovered nanoscience, which has resulted in an almost infinite number of potential nanomaterials of unknown efficacy. We discuss how tools to categorize nanomaterials on the basis of structure, properties and interactions can provide insights on promising directions.