Developmental neurotoxicity of silver nanoparticles: the current state of knowledge and future directions

Abstract

The increasing production and use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an antimicrobial agent in an array of medical and commercial products, including those designed for infants and children, poses a substantial risk of exposure during the developmental period. This review summarizes current knowledge on developmental neurotoxicity of AgNPs in both pre- and post-natal stages with a focus on the biological specificity of immature organisms that predisposes them to neurotoxic insults as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying AgNP-induced neurotoxicity. The current review revealed that AgNPs increase the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and selectively damage neurons in the brain of immature rats exposed pre and postnatally. Among the AgNP-induced molecular mechanisms underlying toxic insult is cellular stress, which can consequently lead to cell death. Glutamatergic neurons and NMDAR-mediated neurotransmission also appear to be a target for AgNPs during the postnatal period of exposure. Collected data indicate also that our current knowledge of the impact of AgNPs on the developing nervous system remains insufficient and further studies are required during different stages of development with investigation of environmentally-relevant doses of exposure.

Keywords:

• Nanosilver
• immature brain
• environmental exposure
• nanotoxicity

Author contributions

Conceptualization, L.S.; Writing – Original Draft Preparation, L.S., B. D-B., G.S.; Writing – Review and Editing, L.S.; Graphic, L.S., B.D-B.; Funding Acquisition, L.S.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The article was supported partially by the grant nr 2016/21/B/NZ7/02756 from the National Science Centre (narodowe centrum nauki) and by statutable funds provided by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland [9/2021].