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ORAL PRESENTATION / SÖZLÜ SUNUM

Invisible Threat: Neurotoxic Effects of Nanoparticles

Ece GOZUPERK Tülay BAKIREL
1
1,*

1 Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of
Pharmacology and Toxicology, Istanbul, TÜRKIYE

*Correspound Author: ece.gozuperk@iuc.edu.tr

Environmental toxicants can trigger neurodegenerative processes in living organisms,

raising significant concerns for both ecological and human health. Among numerous risk

factors, nanoparticles have attracted particular attention due to their microscopic size and
structural diversity. Notably, nanoparticles originating from vehicle emissions and industrial

activities are known to reach the central nervous system, where they may induce undesirable
effects such as inflammation and oxidative stress. Recent studies have demonstrated that

exposure to nanoparticles can impair cognitive functions, exerting pronounced effects on
memory and learning through alterations in synaptic plasticity and neuroinflammatory

processes within key brain regions, such as the hippocampus. At the molecular level,
nanoparticles have been found to trigger microglial activation, leading to chronic

inflammatory responses that contribute to neuronal cell death. Furthermore, these particles
can disrupt mitochondrial functions, adversely affecting cellular energy metabolism, and

may cause DNA damage. Despite the challenges in translating findings from experimental

studies to real-life conditions, understanding the mechanisms by which nanoparticles initiate
and exacerbate neurodegenerative diseases is critical for improving risk assessment and

guiding public health interventions. Many neurological disorders observed in companion
animals share clinical and morphological similarities with those in humans. Given that they

inhabit the same environmental conditions, companion animals exhibit parallel disease
spectra, offering valuable insights into the potential impacts of nanoparticle exposure. This

similarity underscores the significant potential of translating data obtained from animal

models to human health. The present review aims to highlight the effects of nanoparticles
on cognitive health in animals, providing an overview of current findings and recent research

trends.
Keywords: Nanoparticles, Neurotoxicity, Animal health.

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