Express assessment of neurotoxicity of particles of planetary and interstellar dust

Establishment of high-quality, consistent on-board assessment of the neurotoxicity of planetary, and interstellar dust particles will be required to predict their potential threat to human health during long-term space missions. This Perspective article proposes an approach for the rapid assessment of potential neurotoxicity of micro-sized and nano-sized dust particles based on experimental results with other neurotoxic particles. Capacity of particles to affect membrane potential, integrity of nerve terminals, and consequently key synaptic transmission characteristics can be assessed using a planar lipid bilayer technique by monitoring artificial membrane conductivity in the presence of particles. Preliminary neurotoxicity data of nanoparticles, including lunar and Martian dust simulants, obtained using a planar lipid bilayer technique, is compared with that acquired using more-established methodological approaches. Under space flight conditions, neurotoxicity assessments of particulate matter could be rapidly and reproducibly performed using a planar lipid bilayer technique, which does not require biological material.