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Toxicity of Metals, Metal-Based Drugs, and Microplastics

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Toxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 4806

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
2. CCMAR, Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Interests: metals in molecular sciences; decavanadate biochemistry; polyoxometalates (POMs) interactions with proteins; POMs applications in environment and health
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The presence of contaminants, including metals, in the environment is known to pose a threat to both the health and life of organisms. Therefore, control of the levels of metals in environmental media and in the food chain is necessary. This is important in view of the fact that environmental exposure to metals occurs via ingestion of metal-containing food and via the inhalation route. Besides metal exposure, microplastic pollution is becoming a major issue for human health. Microplastics (MPs) are a growing concern as they continue to increase. Moreover, MPs have the ability to accumulate toxic metals in the environment, potentially harming plants, animals, and humans. Therefore, there is a need for more studies on the effects of microplastics and their associations with metals on human health, with the identification of the mechanisms underlying their adverse effects. More work also needs to be performed on the development of proper solutions to alleviate the harmful effects of microplastics and reduce their presence in the environment. It should also be emphasized that interdisciplinary projects are increasing due to observations that microplastics increase metal toxicity. Another issue is associated with metal-based drugs, which have been arousing the interest of many research centers around the world for a long time. The number of studies on the use of certain metals in medicine is constantly growing, raising concerns over their potential effects on human health. It should be mentioned that a better understanding of the mode of action of the metal-based compounds and their toxicity will help to deliver new metal-based therapies.

We invite authors to submit original research papers or review articles on the toxicity of metals with a focus on mechanistic analysis. Aside from the toxicity of metals, we accept studies and review papers about the mechanisms of action and toxicity of metal-based drugs on proteins and cells. Moreover, we accept original papers or review articles on the adverse effects and related mechanisms of microplastics and the association between microplastics and the toxicity of metals.

Dr. Agnieszka Scibior
Prof. Dr. Manuel Aureliano
Prof. Dr. Juan Llopis
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • metal toxicity and pollution
  • microplastic toxicity and pollution
  • metal and microplastic bioaccumulation
  • metal-based drugs
  • protein metalation
  • human health problems
  • diseases
  • in vitro/in vivo studies
  • human studies

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4370 KB  
Article
Coenzyme Q10 Ameliorates Chemotherapy-Induced Neurotoxicity in iPSC-Derived Neurons by Reducing Oxidative Stress
by Nidaa A. Ababneh, Razan AlDiqs, Mohammad H. Gharandouq, Mohammad A. Ismail, Raghda Barham, Fairouz Nairat, Omar Hamdan, Qais Mussa, Momen Sarhan, Amira T. Masri, Anas Abu-Humaidan, Sofian Al Shboul, Areej Abuhammad, Abdalla Awidi and Tareq Saleh
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9647; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199647 - 2 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity (CIN) is a major barrier against optimal anticancer treatment. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of the naturally occurring antioxidant, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), against CIN using a model of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons. iPSCs have consistently proven to be [...] Read more.
Chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity (CIN) is a major barrier against optimal anticancer treatment. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of the naturally occurring antioxidant, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), against CIN using a model of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons. iPSCs have consistently proven to be reliable for disease modeling and drug discovery. We employed cell viability, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function assays to measure the effect of 10 μM CoQ10 on iPSC-derived motor neuron progenitors (iPSC-MNPs) that were exposed to five chemotherapeutic agents: 5-Fluorouracil, methotrexate, paclitaxel (0, 1, and 10 μM) and doxorubicin, and vincristine (0, 0.1, and 1 μM). Our findings show that CoQ10 significantly reversed the reduction in cell viability inflicted by the exposure of iPSCs-MNPs to all five chemotherapeutics. Moreover, CoQ10 treatment resulted in a marked reduction in intracellular ROS levels and enhancement of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in a drug- and dose-dependent manners, highlighting its role in preserving mitochondrial health. This study is the first to explore the protective effects of CoQ10 against CIN using an iPSC-derived neuronal platform, offering insights into its potential therapeutic use. Further investigation is essential to validate these findings and to determine the behavioral effects of CoQ10 in in vivo models of CIN. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Metals, Metal-Based Drugs, and Microplastics)
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Review

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31 pages, 2490 KB  
Review
Therapeutic Potential of Metal-Based and PARP Inhibitor Chemotherapy for BRCA1-Associated Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
by Adisorn Ratanaphan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(20), 9881; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26209881 - 10 Oct 2025
Viewed by 560
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 10–15% of all breast cancers and is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. There is currently no standard treatment regimen for TNBC patients; thus, chemotherapy remains the main treatment. Anthracycline- and taxane-based regimens are the [...] Read more.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for about 10–15% of all breast cancers and is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. There is currently no standard treatment regimen for TNBC patients; thus, chemotherapy remains the main treatment. Anthracycline- and taxane-based regimens are the most widely used in a clinical setting, either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, including poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and platinum drugs. Platinum drugs have been used particularly in patients with BRCA1-mutated TNBC. Preclinical and clinical trials revealed that the response to PARP inhibition was directly correlated to the sensitivity to platinum chemotherapies. Inhibition of PARP enzymes has been shown to specifically target BRCA1 dysfunctional cells. Therefore, targeting breast cancer cells that possess genetic alterations that are absent in normal cells could be attained by the exploitation of synthetic lethality for the discovery of other candidate metals, i.e., ruthenium-derived compounds, as next-generation drugs for the treatment of TNBC. This prospective approach provides new insight into alternative treatments for breast cancers with BRCA1-associated TNBC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Metals, Metal-Based Drugs, and Microplastics)
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16 pages, 755 KB  
Review
Micro- and Nanoplastics as Disruptors of the Endocrine System—A Review of the Threats and Consequences Associated with Plastic Exposure
by Hanna J. Tyc, Karolina Kłodnicka, Barbara Teresińska, Robert Karpiński, Jolanta Flieger and Jacek Baj
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(13), 6156; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26136156 - 26 Jun 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3124
Abstract
Plastic overconsumption has emerged as a major environmental pollutant, with degraded micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) particles being consumed by a vast variety of species. MNPs, particles < 5 mm, contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can bind to hormone receptors and disrupt the proper [...] Read more.
Plastic overconsumption has emerged as a major environmental pollutant, with degraded micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) particles being consumed by a vast variety of species. MNPs, particles < 5 mm, contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can bind to hormone receptors and disrupt the proper endocrinological function of a variety of organs. This review explores the toxicological impact of MNPs on the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid, pineal body, ovaries, and testes, as well as the effects of the endocrinological regulatory axes, including the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG), hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT), and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axes. The disruption of these hormonal feedback systems leads to reproductive dysfunction, neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and metabolic disorders. The gonads are particularly susceptible, with studies demonstrating oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis, and infertility due to MNP exposure. Given the widespread presence of MNPs and their impact on human health, further research is critical to understand their long-term effects and develop strategies to reduce exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Metals, Metal-Based Drugs, and Microplastics)
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