Nano-mediated Management of Metal Toxicity-induced Neurodegeneration: A Critical Review.

Abstract

Heavy metals, omnipresent in the environment, though imperative in trace quantities for human physiology, become a serious health hazard due to their toxicity. Copper, arsenic, lead, iron, and mercury are some examples of the heavy metals responsible for oxidative stress, which is one of the primary factors behind neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurodegeneration is caused by toxicity due to environmental exposure to these toxic substances or genetic variation. Conventional therapies, relying on chelation and antioxidants, suffer from the broader perspective of metal removal in a non-selective manner and poor targeting of the brain. In this respect, treatments based on nanotechnology that employ nanoparticles such as dendrimers, micelles, and liposomes constitute a promising interest in enhancing drug delivery with minimal neurotoxicity. The present review outlines the heavy metals responsible for neurodegenerative diseases, their pathophysiology, management strategies available at present, and the scope of nanotechnology intervention in overcoming shortcomings of conventional therapies. The genetic influence of heavy metals on neurological health is also part of this article.