CNSC-12. NEUROTOXICITY AND NEURO-CARCINOGENESIS OF NANOMATERIALS: THE STATE OF THE ART IN RECENT LITERATURE?

Abstract BACKGROUND Manufactured nanomaterials offer new potential in multiple sectors such as construction, environment, energy and healthcare sectors. Nanomaterial-based brain-targeted delivery systems have shown great potential for effectively delivering therapeutic agents for glioblastoma treatment by overcoming the limitations of conventional drugs, such as poor blood-brain barrier penetration, a short half-life, and low bioavailability. However, nanotechnologies raise questions about their impact on health and the environment. Various forms of carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide particles have been reported to be hazardous at the nanoscale because they are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain. They have been shown to induce tumors in animal models. The aim of our work was to study the direct and indirect effects of nanomaterials on human health, as well as their potential interactions with the central nervous system, in recent literature. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive review of the recent scientific literature with the following keywords: neurotoxicity, neuro carcinogenesis, nanomaterials. RESULTS Current research suggests that nanomaterials are associated with a variety of health disorders, including the onset or aggravation of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Their involvement in neurotoxicity is suspected due to their ability to induce oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, as well as nerve damage such as neuropathy, axonopathy or myelopathy. The fundamental mechanisms of neurotoxicity include DNA damage and cell death, which may act independently or in combination. Although direct evidence of neuro-carcinogenesis in humans remains limited, experimental studies show that some nanomaterials can induce DNA damage and promote abnormal cell proliferation, key mechanisms in cancer transformation. CONCLUSION The safety of nanomedicines and the profiling of their toxicities are essential in the current context and in all fields. We underline the urgent need for further research and reflection within a nexus, to avoid disasters similar to that of asbestos.