Nanoparticles in Food and Cosmetics Disrupt 'Fetal Brain Development'

A study has found that nanoparticles mixed into food and cosmetics can cause disruptions that interfere with fetal brain development.

The Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology announced on January 8 that Dr. Miok Lee’s research team at the Stem Cell Convergence Research Center, in collaboration with Dr. Hyangae Lee’s team at the National Institute of Toxicological Research, has successfully identified the effects of silica nanoparticles on the early stages of human brain development.

Dr. Miok Lee. Provided by Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology

Previous reports have suggested that some nanomaterials may cross the placenta and be delivered to the fetus. While these substances may not have significant effects on adults, there have been concerns that they could impact fetuses and infants whose brains are still developing.

However, animal models and conventional two-dimensional cell experiments have limitations in directly confirming the effects of nanomaterials on the actual process of human brain development.

To address this, the joint research team analyzed changes in the early stages of human brain development-difficult to observe with traditional animal or cell experiments-using brain organoids derived from human stem cells.

When silica nanoparticles were introduced during the early growth stages of brain organoids, no significant morphological abnormalities, such as widespread cell death or disappearance, were observed. However, the researchers found a reduction in the proliferation of foundational brain cells and a weakened process of differentiation into dopamine neurons.

Furthermore, the study observed a general weakening of intercellular signaling and communication between neurons, both of which play crucial roles in brain development. As a result, neurons were less able to form sufficient connections. The research also found that cells responsible for protecting the brain became excessively activated, leading to an increase in inflammation-related signals.

These changes may not cause immediate damage, but over time, they could act as “silent yet persistent changes” that affect the trajectory of brain development.

In this context, the study is significant because it demonstrates that the impact of nanomaterials is not limited to cell death, but can subtly alter the very process by which the brain grows. The research directly identified these changes using a model that closely resembles human brain development.

Dr. Miok Lee stated, “This study shows that substances used in everyday life can affect the process of human brain development, even if they do not kill cells. As a result, precise safety assessments that reflect the stages of human brain development will become increasingly important in the future.”

Meanwhile, the results of this study were published on January 1 in the international journal Journal of Hazardous Materials, which specializes in environmental risk research.