New research by scientists shows that when cellular barriers are exposed to metal nanoparticles, cellular messengers are released that may cause damage to the DNA of developing brain cells. The discovery may have implications for the development of potential drug targets in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The research was carried out by scientists at Trinity College and the University of Bristol, and is published online this week in Nature Nanotechnology.