Environmental science

International audience; The impact on human health of long-term exposure to low doses of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) remainsunderstudied. Cellular studies have shown the intracellular dissolution of AgNPs within endolysosomesfollowed by Ag(I) binding to biomolecular thiolate-containing molecules. However, the precise subcellulardistribution of Ag(I) and the nature of the disrupted physiological pathways remained unknown. Novelimaging approaches enabled us to visualize the trafficking of AgNP-containing lysosomes towards aperinuclear location and a nuclear transfer of Ag(I) species with accumulation in the nucleoli. These Ag(I)species impaired nuclear receptor activity, disrupting critical mechanisms of liver physiology in low doseexposure scenarios, thus justifying further research into defining a framework for the safe use of AgNPs.