Abstract
Nanotechnology is a growing interdisciplinary field which has been
exploited in many areas of healthcare. Treatment of burn wounds through
phytochemically-assisted metallic nanoparticles is one such aspect of nanotechnology.
Metallic nanoparticles are known to cause various harmful effects on intact skin. They
are known to cross the skin barrier, penetrate deeper layers, and sometimes even reach
the blood circulation. In case of damaged skin like burn wounds, the skin losses its
protective functions, thereby enhancing penetration of metallic nanoparticles. This
chapter deals with the introduction to the skin structure, degree of burn wounds and the
toxic effects caused by phytochemically-assisted metallic nanoparticles along with their
mechanism.
Keywords:
Burn Injury, Genotoxicity, Mechanism of Toxicity, Nanoparticles, Phases of Wound Healing, Phototoxicity, Reactive Oxygen Species, Skin Structure.