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Nanoparticles Kill Blood Vessel Cells in the Human Brain

Bernhard Hennig, Ph.D.
College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky
NIEHS Grant P42ES007380

A study funded in part by the Superfund Basic Research Program at NIEHS shows that nanoparticles of aluminum oxide can adversely affect and even kill specialized endothelial cells that line blood vessels in the human brain.

The researchers designed this study to determine the effects of nano-scale particles of aluminum oxide on the human blood-brain barrier. In cell culture systems, endothelial cells that line the interior of blood vessels in the brain were treated with nano-alumina, normal sized alumina particles, carbon nanoparticles, or normal sized carbon particles. After exposure, the researchers assessed cell structure, cell death, mitochondrial effects, and tight junction proteins. Laboratory rats were given intravenous doses of nano-alumina.

In 2005, aluminum oxide nanoparticles accounted for 20 percent of the world production of nanoparticles. The particles are used in a variety of applications in the ceramics, electrical, engineering, and biomedical fields. Increases in the production and expansion of the uses of these particles will inevitably lead to greater human exposure.

The nanoscale alumina and carbon particles were much more toxic than their respective compounds of normal particle size. Nano-alumina significantly increase cellular oxidative stress and disrupted the expression of tight junction proteins. The whole animal experiments confirmed the protein alteration with a loss of critical proteins in the cerebral blood vessels.

Citation: Chen L, Yokel RA, Hennig B, Toborek M. Manufactured aluminum oxide nanoparticles decrease expression of tight junction proteins in brain vasculature. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2008 Dec;3(4):286-95.

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Last Reviewed: November 25, 2008