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Nanoplastics exposure-induced mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to disrupted stem cell differentiation in human cerebral organoids
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Using lab-grown human brain organoids (miniature brain models), researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics damaged mitochondria (the energy-producing structures in cells), leading to increased cell death and disrupted development of brain stem cells. These findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure could interfere with how brain cells develop and function, raising concerns about the neurological effects of environmental plastic pollution on humans.
Nanoplastics are ubiquitous in our daily lives, raising concerns about their potential impact on the human brain. Many studies reported that nanoplastics permeate the blood-brain barrier and influence cellular processes in mouse models. However, the neurotoxic effects of ingesting nanoplastics on human brain remain poorly understood. Here, we treated cerebral organoids with polystyrene nanoplastics to model the effects of nanoplastic exposure on human brain. Importantly, we found that mitochondria might be the significant organelles affected by polystyrene nanoplastics using immunostaing and RNA-seq analysis. Subsequently, we observed the increased cell death and decreased cell differentiation in our cerebral organoids. In conclusion, our findings shed insights on the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of nanoplastics on human brain organoids, providing an evaluation system in detection potential environmental toxicity on human brain.
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Molecular effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human neural stem cells
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Researchers exposed human brain stem cells to tiny polystyrene nanoplastics and found they caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and cell death. These findings suggest that nanoplastics could potentially harm brain development if they reach neural tissue, though more research is needed to understand real-world exposure levels.
Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Biology of Human Neural Stem Cells and Human Cerebral Organoids.
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This study investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human neural stem cells and human cerebral organoids, examining whether nanoplastics that have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and placenta can disrupt normal brain development. Given the lack of prior research on nanoplastic effects on the developing brain, the findings carry significant implications for understanding neurodevelopmental risks from early-life plastic exposure.
Polystyrene nanoplastics impair mitochondrial function, quality control, and ER–mitochondria crosstalk in HeLa cells
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Researchers exposed human HeLa cells (grown in the lab) to polystyrene nanoplastics and measured effects on mitochondria, the cell's energy-producing structures. The nanoplastics disrupted mitochondrial energy production, increased oxidative stress markers, and interfered with communication between mitochondria and another cell structure called the endoplasmic reticulum.
Application of brain organoid technology in exploring the neurotoxicity of micro/nanoplastics: a review of progress and challenges
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A review of brain organoid studies found that micro- and nanoplastics can penetrate these human-derived tissue models and cause mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium signaling disruption, and abnormal neural differentiation resembling neurodegenerative pathology. This significantly advances microplastic pollution research by establishing brain organoids as an ethical and translationally relevant model for assessing the neurotoxic risks of environmental plastic exposure in humans.
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