Silver Nanoparticles in The Fetal Brain: New Perspectives in Understanding The Pathogenesis of Unexplained Stillbirths

Abstract

We report, for the first time, the surprising presence of toxic nanoparticles, especially silver, in the brain of a fetus, who died unexpectedly at the end of a regular pregnancy. After an accurate autopsy, including the examination of the fetal annexes, an in-depth anatomopathological study of the nervous system and a search by scanning electron microscopy of nanoparticles in the brain, we highlighted the sequence of events that may have led to this fetal death, triggered primarily by the transition of nanosized xenobiotics from the mother to the fetal bloodstream. From this report emerges the importance of considering the search of nanosubstances in the brain during routine investigations following unexpected and unexplained fetal and infant deaths.

Environmental Nanoparticles Reach Human Fetal Brains

“…Placental, embryonic, and fetal toxicity are at the core of the adverse outcomes of nanoparticles. The vulnerability of the brain is key, essentially because there is no question that a number of chemicals, and certainly NPs, can interfere with the highly precise neurodevelopmental processes taking place in intrauterine life [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 91 , 96 ]. Of critical importance is the relationship between intrauterine toxic exposures and risk for major neurological, psychiatric, and cardiovascular diseases, a subject discussed for a number of years since the pioneering work of Barker [ 19 ] and 21 century researchers discussing fetal and perinatal programming and neuropsychiatric, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…This pre-COVID study focuses specifically on the light and electron microscopy characterization of preeclamptic and normal-term placentas, and 12–15 week products and their placentas, from two polluted cities in Mexico: MMC and Villahermosa, Tabasco, whose populations have been continuously exposed to complex mixtures of air pollutants, including fine and ultrafine fractions of PM [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Given the passage of NPs from placenta to fetus in experimental animals and human stillbirths [ 9 , 45 ], we are also studying brains from postconceptional weeks PCW 12–15.…”

Effects of Polydopamine Microspheres Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles on Lolium multiflorum: Bigger Size, Less Toxic

“…The toxicity of each independent nanoparticle aqueous suspension was evaluated by exposing seeds of L. multiflorum to six different silver concentrations (5,10,20,40,60, and 80 mg/L) of AgNPs, Ag@PDS, AgNO 3 , and control groups (DI water, 23.8 mg/L KNO 3 equivalents to NO 3 − in 40 mg/L Ag content of AgNO 3 , and 960 mg/L PDS equivalent to PDS in 40 mg/L Ag content of Ag@PDS).…”

“…Over the past several decades, people not only care more about the toxicity and transportation of nanomaterials in the environment, but also have begun to focus on the probable health harms to living organisms [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The toxicity of nanoparticles (TiO 2 , ZnO, Ag, Cu, Al, carbon nanotubes, and so on) to living species has been studied in a wide range, including algae, higher plants, animals, and even humans [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. For example, Atha et al proposed that copper oxide nanoparticles strongly inhibited grassland plant growth and induced DNA damage as well as cyanobacteria, which are ancient prokaryotic microorganisms, by generating excess formation of reactive oxygen substances (ROS) [ 11 ].…”

Nanoparticles and pregnancy: from benchside to the community

“…ESEM investigations have showed that placental transfer of Ag NPs causes indentation of nuclei, clumped chromatin, pyknotic nuclei and focal necrosis; therefore, further studies of genotoxicity have been recommended [25]. Vidmar and colleagues have proved Ag NPs translocation in an ex vivo human placenta perfusion model [26], while Gatti et al [27] have found Ag NPs in the human fetal brain of an unexplained stillbirth suggesting a possible pathogenetic role. Cu NPs are used as preservatives in pressure treated lumber and in some paints or coatings.…”