Abstract
Objective: The respective review aims to analyze the genotoxicity of nanostructures applied to health, since, although these materials are widely used in industrial and commercial scales in the medical field, the potential health risks associated with exposure to them, still need to be understood. Methods: The methodology used is a literature review with a descriptive and informative approach in which the design processes took place by searching the scientific literature published in the last five years in the PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases, through the descriptors (genotoxicity AND nanostructures AND health) and application of four selection filters. Results: The analyzes showed that directly or indirectly most of the materials covered in the studies had a genotoxic effect to a greater or lesser extent correlated with the characteristics or concentrations used. Final considerations: Conducting genotoxicity studies of nanomaterials to identify their potential damage is immensely important. However, the studies reviewed on the genotoxicity of nanomaterials do not show significant homogeneity. As a result, it generates uncertainty about the diversity of tests to reach acceptable conclusions.