Comments on: Nanoparticles on the brain? http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2008/02/21/nanoparticles-on-the-brain/ Our experts' views on chemical and nano news Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:21:59 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 By: Hugo http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2008/02/21/nanoparticles-on-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-223 Hugo Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:34:41 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2008/02/21/nanoparticles-on-the-brain/#comment-223 Hi my real name is not Hugo, currently I am being suppressed from publishing my results , but I can tell you that nanoparticles that cross the stratum corneum from sunscreens will definitely stress the cells, I have monitored this in vivo and is real concerning. The oxidative balance of the cells are shifted quite significantly even after 3 days post application. So if nanoparticles small enough to enter the blood stream via inhalation no doubt in my mind that some will end up in brain tissue along with liver lung and other vital organs. Hi my real name is not Hugo, currently I am being suppressed from publishing my results , but I can tell you that nanoparticles that cross the stratum corneum from sunscreens will definitely stress the cells, I have monitored this in vivo and is real concerning. The oxidative balance of the cells are shifted quite significantly even after 3 days post application. So if nanoparticles small enough to enter the blood stream via inhalation no doubt in my mind that some will end up in brain tissue along with liver lung and other vital organs.

]]> By: John Balbus http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2008/02/21/nanoparticles-on-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-4 John Balbus Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:45:48 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2008/02/21/nanoparticles-on-the-brain/#comment-4 Thanks for your question, Tim. I posted this because a significant fraction of traffic-related carbon black pollution is in the form of ultrafine particles, or particles less than 100 nanometers. So that would be in the same size range of engineered nanoparticles. You're right, not all of the traffic-related particles involved would be in the "nano" range, but the ones most likely to affect the brain probably would be. The authors of this study themselves refer repeatedly to animal studies of engineered nanoparticles to demonstrate the plausibility of transport of inhaled carbon black particles from the nasal passages to the brain. And a <a href="http://www.ehponline.org/members/2007/10216/10216.pdf" rel="nofollow">study published last fall in Environmental Health Perspectives</a> attracted a lot of attention to the possibility of neurotoxicity from nanoparticles. I'm not at all trying to say this proves engineered carbon nanoparticles will display similar neurotoxicity, but this study, along with some other recent research (see reference below) certainly raises questions about the safety of brain deposition of nanoparticles. Reference: Sharma HS, Sharma A. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17645923?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum" rel="nofollow">Nanoparticles aggravate heat stress induced cognitive deficits, blood-brain barrier disruption, edema formation and brain pathology.</a> Prog Brain Res. 2007;162:245-73. Thanks for your question, Tim.

I posted this because a significant fraction of traffic-related carbon black pollution is in the form of ultrafine particles, or particles less than 100 nanometers. So that would be in the same size range of engineered nanoparticles. You're right, not all of the traffic-related particles involved would be in the "nano" range, but the ones most likely to affect the brain probably would be.

The authors of this study themselves refer repeatedly to animal studies of engineered nanoparticles to demonstrate the plausibility of transport of inhaled carbon black particles from the nasal passages to the brain. And a study published last fall in Environmental Health Perspectives attracted a lot of attention to the possibility of neurotoxicity from nanoparticles.

I'm not at all trying to say this proves engineered carbon nanoparticles will display similar neurotoxicity, but this study, along with some other recent research (see reference below) certainly raises questions about the safety of brain deposition of nanoparticles.

Reference: Sharma HS, Sharma A. Nanoparticles aggravate heat stress induced cognitive deficits, blood-brain barrier disruption, edema formation and brain pathology. Prog Brain Res. 2007;162:245-73.

]]> By: Tim http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2008/02/21/nanoparticles-on-the-brain/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Tim Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:46:23 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/nanotechnology/2008/02/21/nanoparticles-on-the-brain/#comment-3 Please clarify what these comments so far have to do with nano technology. Are pollution particles really nano particles? I thought they were in the realm of ordinary gross particles. The topic is serious and most concerning. But is it nano? I appreciate NRDC. Please clarify what these comments so far have to do with nano technology. Are pollution particles really nano particles? I thought they were in the realm of ordinary gross particles. The topic is serious and most concerning. But is it nano?

I appreciate NRDC.

]]>