Insights into nanoparticles-induced neurotoxicity and cope up strategies (original) (raw)

Nanoparticles and potential neurotoxicity: focus on molecular mechanisms

AIMS molecular science, 2018

The last decades have seen an explosive increase in the development of nanoparticles and in their use in consumer, industrial and medical applications. Their fast diffusion has also raised widespread concern about the potential toxic effects on living organisms, including humans: at the nanoscale, they can interact with subcellular components such as membranes, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, thus inducing unpredicted functional perturbations in cells and tissues. The nervous tissue is a particular sensitive target, because its cellular components (mainly neurons and glial cells) are tightly regulated and metabolically exigent biological entities. While the literature on the potential toxicity of nanoparticles has grown in parallel with their utilization, the available data on neurotoxicity are less abundant. In particular, information on the neuronal molecular targets of nanoparticles is still largely incomplete. A better understanding of this issue is highly relevant for the rational and controlled design of nanoparticles, both for their general utilization and more specifically for their use in the promising field of nanoneuromedicine. In this review, we will discuss the available information on the mechanisms involved in the interaction between nanoobjects and cells of the nervous system, focusing on the known molecular actors, both at the plasma membrane and in intracellular compartments.

Neurotoxicity of Nanoparticles

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd eBooks, 2014

The evidence for the neurotoxicity of nanoparticles is summarized. The sources of such particles and the ways in which they may enter the brain are listed and discussed. These include the olfactory pathway, the respiratory tract and the possibility of transport across the blood brain barrier. However, nanoparticles acting systemically can also be neurotoxic without directly entering the brain. The means by which nanoparticles can be injurious to the central nervous system include both their physical characteristics such as their form and size, and their chemical composition. Particles containing transition metals the possibility of valence flux under biological conditions, may promote pro-oxidant events in nervous tissues. Futile activation of astroglial immune responses can initiate chronic inflammatory events. The toxicity of airborne particles includes evidence of oxidative damage and heightened inflammation in the brain. The consequences of these changes may include the advancement of several prevalent neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases characterized by excess levels of oxidative damage and inflammatory changes. Conclusive detection of such changes in incidence consequent to particulate exposure remains elusive.

A review of nanoparticle functionality and toxicity on the central nervous system

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 2010

Although nanoparticles have tremendous potential for a host of applications, their adverse effects on living cells have raised serious concerns recently for their use in the healthcare and consumer sectors. As regards the central nervous system (CNS), research data on nanoparticle interaction with neurons has provided evidence of both negative and positive effects. Maximal application dosage of nanoparticles in materials to provide applications such as antibacterial and antiviral functions is approximately 0.1–1.0 wt%. This concentration can be converted into a liquid phase release rate (leaching rate) depending upon the host or base materials used. For example, nanoparticulate silver (Ag) or copper oxide (CuO)-filled epoxy resin demonstrates much reduced release of the metal ions (Ag + or Cu 2+ ) into their surrounding environment unless they are mechanically removed or aggravated. Subsequent to leaching effects and entry into living systems, nanoparticles can also cross through ma...

In Vitro Neurotoxicity Resulting from Exposure of Cultured Neural Cells to Several Types of Nanoparticles

Journal of Cell Death, 2017

Laboratory and industrial production of various nanoparticles, single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs), fullerene (C60), cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots, carbon black (CB), and dye-doped silica nanospheres (NSs), has greatly increased in the past 15 years. However, little research has been done to analyze the toxicity of these materials. With recent studies showing that nano-substances can cross the blood–brain barrier, we examined the neurotoxicity of these manufactured nanoparticles. By employing the rat PC-12 neuronal-like cell line as the basis for our studies, we were able to evaluate the toxicity caused by these five nanoparticles. The level of toxicity was measured by testing for cell viability using the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cell viability assay, morphological analysis of changes in cellular structures, and Western blot analyses of αII-spectrin breakdown products (SBDP) as cell death indicators. Our results showed cytotoxicity in nondifferentiated PC-12 cells exposed to C...

Impact of Nanoparticles on Brain Health: An Up to Date Overview

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Nanoparticles are zero-dimensional nanomaterials and, based on their nature, they can be categorized into organic, inorganic, and composites nanoparticles. Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, nanoparticles are extensively used in a variety of fields, including medicine, pharmaceutics, and food industry. Although they have the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases, it is fundamentally important to develop standardized toxicological studies, which can prevent the induction of neurotoxic effects. The focus of this review is to emphasize both the beneficial and negative effects of nanoparticles on brain health.

Almas et al Nanoneurotocixicity (ECER)

Nanoparticles (NPs) that are ∼100 nm in diameter can potentially cause toxicity in the central nervous system (CNS). Although NPs exhibit positive aspects, these molecules primarily exert negative or harmful effects. Thus, the beneficial and harmful effects should be compared. The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and some brain tumors, has increased. However, the major cause of these diseases remains unknown. NPs have been considered as one of the major potential causes of these diseases, penetrating the human body via different pathways. This review summarizes various pathways for NP-induced neurotoxicity, suggesting the development of strategies for nanoneuroprotection using in silico and biological methods. Studies of oxidative stress associated with gene expression analyses provide efficient information for understanding neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration associated with NPs. The brain is a sensitive and fragile organ, and evolution has developed mechanisms to protect it from injury; however, this protection also hinders the methods used for therapeutic purposes. Thus, brain and CNS-related diseases that are the cause of disability and disorder are the most difficult to treat. There are many obstacles to drug delivery in the CNS, such as the blood brain barrier and blood tumor barrier. Considering these barriers, we have reviewed the strategies available to map NPs using biological techniques. The surface adsorption energy of NPs is the basic force driving NP Almas Iqbal and Iqra Ahmad equally contributed to this work.

In Vivo Toxicity of Nanoparticles: Modalities and Treatment

European Chemical Bulletin, 2014

In the present scenario, the burgeoning field of nanotechnology is playing central role in various real world applications. Researches engrossing nanoparticles are evolving at a rapid pace owing to which engineered nanomaterials are increasingly becoming part of daily life in the form of cosmetics, food packaging, drug delivery, therapeutics, biosensors, etc. It is intrigued that the properties of nanoparticles which bestow them their unique physicochemical characteristics could also lead to adverse biological consequences such as increased uptake and interaction with the biological systems. Nanomaterials, due to their small size could enter the body through various semi open anatomical interfaces and can penetrate through cells and organelles and disrupt their normal function, which could lead to tissue inflammation, altered cellular redox balance or even cell death. Nanoparticles unlike larger particles can transverse through the circulatory/lymphatic to various vital organs of th...

Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Biomedical Application: Nanotoxicology

Journal of Toxicology, 2021

Nanoparticles are of great importance in development and research because of their application in industries and biomedicine. The development of nanoparticles requires proper knowledge of their fabrication, interaction, release, distribution, target, compatibility, and functions. This review presents a comprehensive update on nanoparticles’ toxic effects, the factors underlying their toxicity, and the mechanisms by which toxicity is induced. Recent studies have found that nanoparticles may cause serious health effects when exposed to the body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact without caution. The extent to which toxicity is induced depends on some properties, including the nature and size of the nanoparticle, the surface area, shape, aspect ratio, surface coating, crystallinity, dissolution, and agglomeration. In all, the general mechanisms by which it causes toxicity lie on its capability to initiate the formation of reactive species, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and neurotoxicity, among others.

Paracrine signalling of inflammatory cytokines from an in vitro blood brain barrier model upon exposure to polymeric nanoparticles

The Analyst, 2014

Nanoparticle properties, such as small size relative to large highly modifiable surface area, offer great promise for neuro-therapeutics and nanodiagnostics. A fundamental understanding and control of how nanoparticles interact with the blood-brain barrier (BBB) could enable major developments in nanomedical treatment of previously intractable neurological disorders, and help ensure that nanoparticles not intended to reach the brain do not cause adverse effects. Nanosafety is of utmost importance to this field. However, a distinct lack of knowledge exists regarding nanoparticle accumulation within the BBB and the biological effects this may induce on neighbouring cells of the Central Nervous System (CNS), particularly in the long-term. This study focussed on the exposure of an in vitro BBB model to model carboxylated polystyrene nanoparticles (PS COOH NPs), as these nanoparticles are well characterised for in vitro experimentation and have been reported as non-toxic in many biological settings. TEM imaging showed accumulation but not degradation of 100 nm PS COOH NPs within the lysosomes of the in vitro BBB over time. Cytokine secretion analysis from the in vitro BBB post 24 h 100 nm PS COOH NP exposure showed a low level of pro-inflammatory RANTES protein secretion compared to control. In contrast, 24 h exposure of the in vitro BBB endothelium to 100 nm PS COOH NPs in the presence of underlying astrocytes caused a significant increase in pro-survival signalling. In conclusion, the tantalising possibilities of nanomedicine must be balanced by cautious studies into the possible long-term toxicity caused by accumulation of known 'toxic' and 'non-toxic' nanoparticles, as general toxicity assays may be disguising significant signalling regulation during longterm accumulation.