Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the biology of human Neural Stem Cells and human Cerebral Organoids

Abstract

Global plastic production has increased exponentially in recent decades and a significant proportion persists in the environment, where it is degraded by mechanical and physical processes giving rise to micro (< 5mm) and nanoplastics (< 1000 nm; NP) and can reach humans through ingestion, inhalation and the dermal route. There is growing concern about the effects that NPs may cause on human health, in particular there are few studies that assess the effect of NPs on the developing brain, although they have been shown to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier and the placenta. In this study, we evaluate the effects of 30 nm polysteren NPs (PSNPs) on human neural stem cells (hNSCs) and human cerebral organoids (hCOs). In these models we perform studies on cell death, cell proliferation and phenotypic differentiation. As initial results, it can be said that the NPs penetrate cells and organoids, observing an increase of apoptotic markers at higher concentrations, indicative of cell death and alterations in cell proliferation and phenotypic differentiation. Overall, our study suggests the vulnerability of human stem cells to PSNPs exposure, resulting in functional disturbance that might lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.