As nanotechnology develops into a mature industry the environmental and health effects of its core materials are of increasing importance. These issues are particularly critical for any develop of nanotechnology, and thus useful and predictive information about environmental and health impacts are essential. A significant challenge for characterizing the toxicity of nanostructures is that for every class of engineered nanoparticle (nanotubes, quantum dots, metal nanocrystals) there are literally thousands of possible samples with various sizes, surfaces and shapes. Simple screening of the biocompatibility of a particular nanoparticle is thus limited unless the result can be generalized its fundamental structure. This talk will present work which has focused on understanding the basics of nanoparticle toxicology in cell culture (basic knowledge) including how nanoparticle characteristics (e.g. surface chemistry, size, shape) control their biological effects. In most cases the surface coatings of particles mediate their acute biological interactions, and thus provide a means to engineer nanoparticles with minimal impact on the environment.