Background

·           Neurodegenerative diseases affect over 1.6% of the European population.

·           Incidence of these diseases is increasing dramatically as the population ages.

·           Parkinson’s disease has been linked to environmental pollutants, which may also be a co-factor in Alzheimer’s disease.

·           There is some evidence of increased incidence of neurodegenerative diseases in highly polluted cities.

·           There is a potential risk that engineered nanoparticles could introduce unforeseen hazards to human health.

Aims & Objectives

·           To determine if engineered nanoparticles present a significant neuro-toxicological risk to humans;                        

·           To assess nanoparticle impacts on oxidative stress and protein fibrillation;           

·           To correlate nanoparticle access to the brain with induction of oxidative stress and/or protein fibrillation;

·           To develop a simple screening and risk assessment matrix for nanoparticles in neurodegenerative diseases.

 

Research

NeuroNano draws together a unique team, several of whom have pioneered the preliminary results in this field, and supplements them with the necessary skills and facilities required to address these questions.

It is a knowledge-based approach, for it probes the questions in the deepest manner, isolating each separate element of the nanoparticle’s physic-chemical qualities that control fibrillation and oxidative stress, and access to the brain, determining their consequences separately.

 

The key issues

·           Nanoparticles may reach the brain – less than 40 nm particles can potentially pass through the blood-brain barrier.

·           Nanoparticles may induce oxidative stress in living systems. Oxidative stress from ambient or combustion particles contribute to cell damage, including DNA damage.

·           The large surface area of nanoparticles means that they can modulate the fate of protein fibrillation in solution. Whether this has significance in vivo is not yet determined.

 

Expected impacts  

Support to research and regulation

·           Better understanding of the impact of nanoparticles on human health

·           Where needed, definition of appropriate future regulatory measures.

 

Societal benefits

·           Improved quality of life for Europe’s ageing population

·           Sustainable and responsible development of Nanotechnology 

·           Securing the knowledge-based economy