Fig. 7From: Ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles cause significant toxicity by specifically inducing acute oxidative stress to multiple organsPossible causes of toxicity of USPIONs (< 5 nm): (1) high biodistribution of the ultrasmall NPs in heart; (2) ultrasmall NPs (< 5 nm) trigger the generation of ROS; (3) quick release of Fe2+ from ultrasmall NPs induces the ferroptosis based on hydroxyl radicals (·OH)Back to article page