Anthropogenic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Induce Damage to Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells Forming the Blood-Brain Barrier

Abstract

Background: Iron nanoparticles, mainly in magnetite phase (Fe 3 O 4 NPs), are released to the environment in areas with high traffic density and braking frequency. Fe 3 O 4 NPs were found in postmortem human brains and are assumed to get directly into the brain through the olfactory nerve. However, these pollution-derived NPs may also translocate from the lungs to the bloodstream and then, through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), into the brain inducing oxidative and inflammatory responses that contribute to neurodegeneration. Objective: To describe the interaction and toxicity of pollution-derived Fe 3 O 4 NPs on primary rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (rBMECs), main constituents of in vitro BBB models. Methods: Synthetic bare Fe 3 O 4 NPs that mimic the environmental ones (miFe 3 O 4 ) were synthesized by co-precipitation and characterized using complementary techniques. The rBMECs were cultured in Transwell® plates. The NPs-cell interaction was evaluated through transmission electron microscopy and standard colorimetric in vitro assays.

Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier: Its Role in Spinal Disorders and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies

“…Suwannasual et al showed that exposure to a mixture of gasoline and diesel vehicle engine emissions (MVE) led to alterations in BBB integrity (reduced TJs, upregulated IL-6, TGF-β) via Angiotensin-AT1 signalling and inflammation [228]. Similar effects on TJs were observed with environmental pollutant exposures such as perfluorooctane sulfonate [229] and pollution derived Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles [230]. Severe BBB dysfunction in children has been observed on exposure to dioxins such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) [231] and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) [232].…”

Implications of environmental nanoparticles on neurodegeneration

“…Synthetic nanoparticles, tiny-engineered structures with wide-ranging applications, are categorized according to their Nanoparticles interact uniquely with biological systems due to their small size and large surface area. While beneficial for medical applications, these interactions raise health concerns (Garate-Velez et al, 2020;Thompson, 2018). For instance, inhaled nanoparticles can penetrate the lungs and nasal mucosa, accessing the central nervous system (CNS) and potentially causing damage at the cellular and mitochondrial levels, leading to various health issues, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases (Garate-Velez et al, 2020).…”

“…While beneficial for medical applications, these interactions raise health concerns (Garate‐Velez et al., 2020; Thompson, 2018). For instance, inhaled nanoparticles can penetrate the lungs and nasal mucosa, accessing the central nervous system (CNS) and potentially causing damage at the cellular and mitochondrial levels, leading to various health issues, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases (Garate‐Velez et al., 2020). Several studies indicate a link between early‐life nanoparticle exposure and the development of neurodegenerative diseases (Calderon‐Garciduenas et al., 2001, 2003).…”

Iron oxide nanoparticles: a narrative review of in-depth analysis from neuroprotection to neurodegeneration

“…This leads to the accumulation of IONPs that trigger oxidative and inammatory reactions through the Fenton reaction to cause a variety of health issues. 9 It is becoming more and more likely that excessive amount of iron in certain brain areas like the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus amygdala, cingulate cortex, and putamen contribute signicantly to the pathogenesis of AD and other neurodegenerative illnesses. 10 Although dementia is more common in established nations than in developing ones, it is spreading quickly around the globe.…”