SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

中国化学工程学报 ›› 2023, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (2): 144-152.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2022.04.007

• Full Length Article • 上一篇    下一篇

Multiple effects of polydopamine nanoparticles on Cu2+-mediated Alzheimer's β-amyloid aggregation

Xueqing Chen, Weiqun Gao, Yan Sun, Xiaoyan Dong   

  1. Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
  • 收稿日期:2022-01-10 修回日期:2022-03-11 出版日期:2023-02-28 发布日期:2023-05-11
  • 通讯作者: Xiaoyan Dong,E-mail:d_xy@tju.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21978207 and 21621004) and the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin from Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission (19JCZDJC36800).

Multiple effects of polydopamine nanoparticles on Cu2+-mediated Alzheimer's β-amyloid aggregation

Xueqing Chen, Weiqun Gao, Yan Sun, Xiaoyan Dong   

  1. Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
  • Received:2022-01-10 Revised:2022-03-11 Online:2023-02-28 Published:2023-05-11
  • Contact: Xiaoyan Dong,E-mail:d_xy@tju.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21978207 and 21621004) and the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin from Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission (19JCZDJC36800).

摘要: Deposition of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) is the main hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it has been well recognized that Cu2+-mediated Aβ aggregation plays a crucial role in AD pathological processes. Cu2+ binding to Aβ can promote the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through Fenton-like reactions and produce more toxic Aβ-Cu2+ species under Cu2+ stimulation. Thus, the development of nanomaterials that can inhibit Cu2+-mediated Aβ aggregation and degrade Aβ-Cu2+ complexes is considered an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of AD. In this study, polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) were prepared and the results reveal that PDA NPs potently inhibit Cu2+-mediated Aβ aggregation and effectively reduce the formation of Aβ-Cu2+ complexes. In vitro experiments show that PDA NPs efficiently eliminate ROS generation catalyzed by Cu2+ or Aβ-Cu2+ complexes, thus rescuing cultured cells by reducing intracellular ROS levels. More importantly, PDA NPs can depolymerize Aβ-Cu2+ complexes, and the degradation of Aβ-Cu2+ complexes is promoted by near-infrared light irradiation due to their high photothermal conversion ability. In vivo studies reveal that PDA NPs significantly reduce the deposition of Aβ plaques in the presence of Cu2+ and extend the lifespan of AD nematodes from 11 to 14 d. Thus, the PDA NPs developed herein are multifunctional against Cu2+-mediated Aβ aggregation for the potential prevention and treatment of AD.

关键词: Protein, Aggregation, Nanoparticles, Photothermal therapy, Reactive oxygen species, Cu2+ chelator

Abstract: Deposition of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) is the main hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it has been well recognized that Cu2+-mediated Aβ aggregation plays a crucial role in AD pathological processes. Cu2+ binding to Aβ can promote the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through Fenton-like reactions and produce more toxic Aβ-Cu2+ species under Cu2+ stimulation. Thus, the development of nanomaterials that can inhibit Cu2+-mediated Aβ aggregation and degrade Aβ-Cu2+ complexes is considered an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of AD. In this study, polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) were prepared and the results reveal that PDA NPs potently inhibit Cu2+-mediated Aβ aggregation and effectively reduce the formation of Aβ-Cu2+ complexes. In vitro experiments show that PDA NPs efficiently eliminate ROS generation catalyzed by Cu2+ or Aβ-Cu2+ complexes, thus rescuing cultured cells by reducing intracellular ROS levels. More importantly, PDA NPs can depolymerize Aβ-Cu2+ complexes, and the degradation of Aβ-Cu2+ complexes is promoted by near-infrared light irradiation due to their high photothermal conversion ability. In vivo studies reveal that PDA NPs significantly reduce the deposition of Aβ plaques in the presence of Cu2+ and extend the lifespan of AD nematodes from 11 to 14 d. Thus, the PDA NPs developed herein are multifunctional against Cu2+-mediated Aβ aggregation for the potential prevention and treatment of AD.

Key words: Protein, Aggregation, Nanoparticles, Photothermal therapy, Reactive oxygen species, Cu2+ chelator