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Volume 14
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10.3390/toxics14020178
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Article

Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Nervous System: Calcium Homeostasis, BDNF and Synaptic Plasticity

by
Yiming Zhao
1,2,
Licheng Yan
1,
Yizhe Wei
2,
Jianping Ma
2,
Jiang Chen
2,
Xuan Liu
2,
Yanan Mi
2,
Bingyan Wang
2,
Leili Zhang
2,
Lei Tian
2,* and
Bencheng Lin
2,*
1
School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
2
Military Medical Sciences Academy, Academy of Military Sciences, Tianjin 300050, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Toxics 2026, 14(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020178
Submission received: 26 January 2026 / Revised: 12 February 2026 / Accepted: 14 February 2026 / Published: 17 February 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Exposure, Toxicity and Health Impact of Emerging Environmental Contaminants)
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Abstract

(1) Background: The increasing environmental concentration of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) may pose a risk of human exposure and health threats. Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to PS-NPs poses a threat to neural synaptic plasticity, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. (2) Methods: Hippocampal astrocytes and neurons were co-cultured, exposed to PS-NPs at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL, and cytotoxicity was assessed. We investigated PS-NP-induced impairment of synaptic plasticity by regulating the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). (3) Results: Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a central molecular organizer of synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory, and its activity is intrinsically linked to intracellular calcium ion concentration. Our research indicates that PS-NPs may interfere with calcium ion signaling and CaMKIIα activity, thereby reducing CaMKIIα activity. This subsequently downregulates the expression of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), modulates BDNF expression, and impacts synaptic plasticity. (4) Conclusions: In summary, this study primarily focused on the effects of PS-NPs exposure on hippocampal synaptic plasticity.
Keywords: nanoplastics; hippocampus; BDNF; CaMKII; synaptic plasticity nanoplastics; hippocampus; BDNF; CaMKII; synaptic plasticity
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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhao, Y.; Yan, L.; Wei, Y.; Ma, J.; Chen, J.; Liu, X.; Mi, Y.; Wang, B.; Zhang, L.; Tian, L.; et al. Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Nervous System: Calcium Homeostasis, BDNF and Synaptic Plasticity. Toxics 2026, 14, 178. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020178

AMA Style

Zhao Y, Yan L, Wei Y, Ma J, Chen J, Liu X, Mi Y, Wang B, Zhang L, Tian L, et al. Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Nervous System: Calcium Homeostasis, BDNF and Synaptic Plasticity. Toxics. 2026; 14(2):178. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020178

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhao, Yiming, Licheng Yan, Yizhe Wei, Jianping Ma, Jiang Chen, Xuan Liu, Yanan Mi, Bingyan Wang, Leili Zhang, Lei Tian, and et al. 2026. "Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Nervous System: Calcium Homeostasis, BDNF and Synaptic Plasticity" Toxics 14, no. 2: 178. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020178

APA Style

Zhao, Y., Yan, L., Wei, Y., Ma, J., Chen, J., Liu, X., Mi, Y., Wang, B., Zhang, L., Tian, L., & Lin, B. (2026). Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Nervous System: Calcium Homeostasis, BDNF and Synaptic Plasticity. Toxics, 14(2), 178. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14020178

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