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Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Microglia as a Surrogate Biosensor to Determine Nanoparticle Neurotoxicity
Published on: October 25, 2016
The inflammatory response to silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the central nervous system
Tianshu Wu1,2, Meng Tang1,2
1Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine & Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science & Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Abstract:
Despite the increasing number of neurotoxicological studies on metal-containing nanoparticles (NPs), the NP-induced neuroinflammation has not yet been well understood. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of inflammatory responses to two typical metal-containing NPs, namely silver NPs (Ag-NPs) and titanium dioxide NPs (TiO2-NPs). Ag-NPs and TiO2-NPs could translocate into the CNS through damaged blood-brain barrier, nerve afferent signaling and eye-to-brain ways, and even cell uptake. NPs could stimulate the activation of glial cells to release proinflammatory cytokines and generate reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production, resulting in the neuroinflammation. The potential mechanisms of Ag-NPs and TiO2-NPs causing inflammation are complex, including several immune response relevant signaling pathways. Some parameters governing their ability to cause neuroinflammation are presented as well.
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