Plastic additives are chemical substances added during the manufacturing process to give plastic specific properties, like flexibility or durability. Although they are an essential part in plastic production, there is a growing concern regarding the potential risks that some of these chemicals may pose to the environment and human health.
Additives are not chemically bound to the plastic, meaning that they can be released into the environment, resulting in direct human exposure. Scientific evidence suggests that certain additives may have negative effects on human health, affecting different organs, including the nervous system. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which these substances reach the brain, as well as the extent of the damage they may cause, remain largely unknown.
In this context, the project seeks to better understand how plastic additives might cross the blood brain barrier - a natural “filter” that protects the brain by blocking potentially harmful substances while allowing essential nutrients to pass through. The first step will involve exposing a model that mimics the blood-brain barrier to specific plastic additives, in order to assess whether these compounds affect the barrier’s integrity and increase its permeability.
