Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Direct Quantification of Nanoplastics Neurotoxicity by Single‐Vesicle Electrochemistry

Using a precise electrochemical technique to measure individual brain cell vesicles, researchers provided the first direct evidence that nanoplastics disrupt how neurons store and release chemical messengers. Nanoplastic exposure reduced the amount of neurotransmitters in cell vesicles and impaired the process of releasing them during signaling. The study offers a detailed molecular-level look at how nanoplastics may interfere with brain cell communication.

2023 Angewandte Chemie International Edition 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to Nanoplastics Disrupts Neurotransmitter Release in Rat Hippocampal Neurons

Researchers exposed rat hippocampal neurons to polystyrene nanoplastics and measured neurotransmitter release using electrophysiology. Nanoplastic exposure disrupted synaptic transmission by impairing calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release at hippocampal synapses, providing direct evidence of nanoplastic interference with the neural signaling machinery involved in memory and cognition.

2025 Environment & Health
Article Tier 2

The Effects of Nanoplastics on the Dopamine System of Cerebrocortical Neurons

Researchers studied how nanoplastics affect the dopamine system in brain neurons grown in the lab. They found that nanoplastics accumulated inside neurons in a dose-dependent manner and altered the levels of proteins involved in dopamine signaling. These results suggest that nanoplastic exposure could potentially interfere with brain chemistry, though more research is needed to understand what this means for human health.

2024 International Journal of Toxicology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Environmental Concentrations of Nanoplastics on Zebrafish Neurobehavior and Reproductive Toxicity

Researchers exposed zebrafish to environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene nanoplastics and found they caused both brain and reproductive damage. The nanoplastics disrupted neurotransmitter signaling and impaired the hormonal pathway connecting the brain to reproductive organs, with different effects in males and females. These findings suggest that even low-level nanoplastic exposure could affect both brain function and fertility in aquatic life that humans may consume.

2024 Toxics 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Neuronal damage induced by nanopolystyrene particles in nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans

C. elegans nematodes were chronically exposed to nanopolystyrene particles and found to develop neuronal damage affecting both development and function of the nervous system after long-term exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study provides early evidence that nanoplastics can cause neurological harm in an animal model, raising questions about potential neurotoxicity in other species.

2019 Environmental Science Nano 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-nanoplastics in the central nervous system: Evidence, mechanisms and perspectives

This review examines evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause neurotoxicity through oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disruption of neurotransmitter signaling. While clinical studies have confirmed the presence of plastic particles in human brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid, the authors note that methodological limitations and inconsistent quality controls currently prevent establishing a definitive causal link to neurological conditions.

2026 Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Crossing barriers – tracking micro- and nanoplastic pathways into the human brain

Researchers tracked potential pathways by which micro- and nanoplastics may enter the human brain, examining both in vitro cell models and post-mortem brain tissue. They found that human monocytes rapidly internalized polystyrene particles into endocytic vesicles and mitochondria, and detected plastic particles in brain tissue samples, providing evidence that nanoplastics may be capable of crossing brain barriers.

2026
Article Tier 2

Alleviation of neurotoxicity induced by polystyrene nanoplastics by increased exocytosis from neurons

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in neurons and cause toxic effects on brain cells. They found that inhibiting a specific protein involved in transporting particles within cells promoted the export of nanoplastics from neurons, reducing their harmful effects. The study suggests that enhancing the cell's natural ability to expel nanoplastics could be a potential strategy for alleviating their neurotoxic impact.

2023 Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 17 citations
Article Tier 2

The plastic brain: neurotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics

This review examines the emerging evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the brain in both aquatic animals and mammals, potentially causing neurotoxic effects. Researchers found that exposure to these particles induces oxidative stress, inhibits key enzymes involved in nerve signaling, and alters neurotransmitter levels, which may contribute to behavioral changes. The study highlights that systematic research comparing different particle types, sizes, and exposure conditions is urgently needed to understand the neurological risks.

2020 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 691 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent progress and future directions of the research on nanoplastic-induced neurotoxicity

This review summarizes current research on how nanoplastics cause damage to the nervous system, covering studies in cell cultures, zebrafish, mice, and other models. Nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier, trigger oxidative stress and inflammation in brain tissue, and disrupt nerve cell function. The authors highlight that understanding these mechanisms is crucial for assessing the long-term neurological risks of human exposure to nanoplastics through food, water, and air.

2023 Neural Regeneration Research 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxicity induced by aged microplastics from plastic bowls: Abnormal neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans

Researchers found that microplastics released from aged plastic bowls caused nerve damage in the roundworm C. elegans at environmentally realistic concentrations. The aged microplastics disrupted neurotransmitter systems including dopamine and serotonin, leading to impaired movement. This study is concerning because it shows that everyday plastic items we use for food can release microplastics that have neurotoxic effects.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxicityof Micro- and Nanoplastics: A ComprehensiveReview of Central Nervous System Impacts

This comprehensive review examines neurotoxicity of micro- and nanoplastics, synthesizing evidence that MNP exposure disrupts neural signaling, promotes neuroinflammation, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and may contribute to neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders.

2025 Figshare
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of the potential neurotoxicity of micro-and nanoplastics: the known and unknown

This critical review of 234 studies found that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the brain via olfactory translocation or by crossing the blood-brain barrier, where they may cause neuroinflammation, oxidative damage, and behavioral changes in animal models. The evidence raises significant concerns about potential neurotoxic effects of chronic microplastic exposure in humans, though major knowledge gaps remain.

2025 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Human neurons are susceptible to the internalization of small-sized nanoplastics

Researchers studied how human neurons take up nanoplastics and found that the cells readily absorbed 50-nanometer polystyrene particles through specific cellular pathways. The nanoplastics accumulated in cell compartments and, at higher concentrations, triggered oxidative stress and reduced cell survival. The study provides evidence that very small plastic particles can enter human brain cells, raising concerns about potential neurological effects of nanoplastic exposure.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A Multisystemic Approach Revealed Aminated Polystyrene Nanoparticles-Induced Neurotoxicity.

Aminated polystyrene nanoparticles caused neurotoxicity in multiple model systems, including effects on neuronal cell viability, oxidative stress markers, and behavioral changes in exposed organisms, demonstrating that surface charge of nanoplastics influences their capacity to damage nervous tissue.

2024 Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Article Tier 2

Response of tyramine and glutamate related signals to nanoplastic exposure in Caenorhabditis elegans

Researchers exposed Caenorhabditis elegans to nanopolystyrene and characterized changes in tyramine and glutamate neurotransmitter pathways, finding that nanoplastic exposure disrupted both signaling systems and that mutations in these pathways altered the worm's sensitivity to nanoplastic toxicity.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Systematic In Vivo (Zebrafish) and In Vitro Study on Nanoplastics-Induced AChE Inhibition

Researchers used zebrafish and purified enzyme experiments to demonstrate that polystyrene nanoplastics suppress brain acetylcholinesterase — a key enzyme for nerve signal transmission — through two parallel mechanisms: inducing oxidative stress that damages the enzyme indirectly, and physically altering the enzyme's three-dimensional structure to block its active site.

2026 Aquatic Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Bioeffects of Inhaled Nanoplastics on Neurons and Alteration of Animal Behaviors through Deposition in the Brain

Researchers demonstrated that nanoplastics inhaled through the nose can travel along the olfactory nerve and deposit directly in the brain, causing neuron damage and altered behavior in mice. Using a microfluidic chip to study neuron interactions, they found that smaller particles with specific surface charges caused the most severe cell damage. The study provides direct evidence that airborne nanoplastics can reach the brain through inhalation and may pose neurotoxic risks.

2022 Nano Letters 156 citations
Article Tier 2

Carboxyl-modified polystyrene microplastics induces neurotoxicity by affecting dopamine, glutamate, serotonin, and GABA neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans

Researchers used the nematode C. elegans as a model to study how carboxyl-modified polystyrene microplastics affect the nervous system. They found that even at low concentrations, these modified microplastics caused more severe neurotoxicity than unmodified polystyrene, disrupting dopamine, glutamate, serotonin, and GABA neurotransmission. The study suggests that surface modifications on microplastics may significantly increase their potential to cause neurological harm.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics induce SH-SY5Y cell damage through oxidative stress and disruption of amino acid metabolism

Researchers exposed human neuronal cells to five types of nanoplastics and found that polyethylene and polypropylene particles caused the most significant reductions in cell viability. The nanoplastics induced oxidative stress, disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential, and triggered cell death pathways. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that amino acid metabolism was particularly affected, suggesting a specific mechanism by which nanoplastics may damage nerve cells.

2026 Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics target electron transport chain complexes in brain mitochondria

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on mitochondrial function in rat brain tissue. They found that nanoplastic exposure significantly impaired the electron transport chain, specifically disrupting electron flow between respiratory complexes I-III and II-III in both synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria. The findings reveal a potential mechanism by which nanoplastics could contribute to brain energy metabolism deficits and neurotoxicity.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxicity of nanoplastics: A review

This review examines the growing body of evidence on how nanoplastics may affect the nervous system. Researchers summarized findings showing that nanoplastics can cross biological barriers, accumulate in brain tissue, and trigger oxidative stress and inflammation in nerve cells. The evidence indicates that nanoplastic exposure may contribute to neurotoxic effects, though more research is needed to fully understand the risks to human brain health.

2024 F1000Research 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics/nanoplastics and neurological health: An overview of neurological defects and mechanisms

This review summarizes evidence that micro and nanoplastics can harm the nervous system, causing developmental abnormalities, brain cell death, neurological inflammation, and potentially contributing to neurodegenerative diseases. Animal studies show that these tiny plastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in brain tissue, where they trigger oxidative stress and disrupt normal brain function. While direct evidence in humans is still limited, the findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure could be a risk factor for neurological health problems.

2024 Toxicology 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurophysiological and Behavioral Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Aquatic Organisms

Researchers reviewed evidence that micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments cross the blood-brain barrier, accumulate in neural tissues, and cause oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disrupted neurotransmitter signaling, with downstream effects on locomotion, feeding, predator avoidance, and social behavior across multiple aquatic species.

2026 Animals