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Kamboukos A, Williams-Noonan BJ, Charchar P, Yarovsky I, Todorova N. Graphitic nanoflakes modulate the structure and binding of human amylin. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:16870-16886. [PMID: 39219407 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01315h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Human amylin is an inherently disordered protein whose ability to form amyloid fibrils is linked to the onset of type II diabetes. Graphitic nanomaterials have potential in managing amyloid diseases as they can disrupt protein aggregation processes in biological settings, but optimising these materials to prevent fibrillation is challenging. Here, we employ bias-exchange molecular dynamics simulations to systematically study the structure and adsorption preferences of amylin on graphitic nanoflakes that vary in their physical dimensions and surface functionalisation. Our findings reveal that nanoflake size and surface oxidation both influence the structure and adsorption preferences of amylin. The purely hydrophobic substrate of pristine graphene (PG) nanoflakes encourages non-specific protein adsorption, leading to unrestricted lateral mobility once amylin adheres to the surface. Particularly on larger PG nanoflakes, this induces structural changes in amylin that may promote fibril formation, such as the loss of native helical content and an increase in β-sheet character. In contrast, oxidised graphene nanoflakes form hydrogen bonds between surface oxygen sites and amylin, and as such restricting protein mobility. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) flakes, featuring lower amounts of surface oxidation, are amphiphilic and exhibit substantial regions of bare carbon which promote protein binding and reduced conformational flexibility, leading to conservation of the native structure of amylin. In comparison, graphene oxide (GO) nanoflakes, which are predominantly hydrophilic and have a high degree of surface oxidation, facilitate considerable protein structural variability, resulting in substantial contact area between the protein and GO, and subsequent protein unfolding. Our results indicate that tailoring the size, oxygen concentration and surface patterning of graphitic nanoflakes can lead to specific and robust protein binding, ultimately influencing the likelihood of fibril formation. These atomistic insights provide key design considerations for the development of graphitic nanoflakes that can modulate protein aggregation by sequestering protein monomers in the biological environment and inhibit conformational changes linked to amyloid fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Kamboukos
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia.
| | - Billy J Williams-Noonan
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia.
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia
| | - Patrick Charchar
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia.
| | - Irene Yarovsky
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia.
| | - Nevena Todorova
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001, Australia.
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Ye T, Yang Y, Bai J, Wu FY, Zhang L, Meng LY, Lan Y. The mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of graphene influencing its pre-clinical use in treating neurological diseases. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1162493. [PMID: 37360172 PMCID: PMC10288862 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1162493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapid progress in nanotechnology has advanced fundamental neuroscience and innovative treatment using combined diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The atomic scale tunability of nanomaterials, which can interact with biological systems, has attracted interest in emerging multidisciplinary fields. Graphene, a two-dimensional nanocarbon, has gained increasing attention in neuroscience due to its unique honeycomb structure and functional properties. Hydrophobic planar sheets of graphene can be effectively loaded with aromatic molecules to produce a defect-free and stable dispersion. The optical and thermal properties of graphene make it suitable for biosensing and bioimaging applications. In addition, graphene and its derivatives functionalized with tailored bioactive molecules can cross the blood-brain barrier for drug delivery, substantially improving their biological property. Therefore, graphene-based materials have promising potential for possible application in neuroscience. Herein, we aimed to summarize the important properties of graphene materials required for their application in neuroscience, the interaction between graphene-based materials and various cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and their potential clinical applications in recording electrodes, drug delivery, treatment, and as nerve scaffolds for neurological diseases. Finally, we offer insights into the prospects and limitations to aid graphene development in neuroscience research and nanotherapeutics that can be used clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Ye
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
- Interdisciplinary Program of Biological Functional Molecules, College of Intergration Science, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
| | - Jin Bai
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
| | - Feng-Ying Wu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
- Interdisciplinary Program of Biological Functional Molecules, College of Intergration Science, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
| | - Long-Yue Meng
- Department of Environmental Science, Department of Chemistry, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
| | - Yan Lan
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
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Jin T, Coley CW, Alexander-Katz A. Adsorption of Biomimetic Amphiphilic Heteropolymers onto Graphene and Its Derivatives. Macromolecules 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Jin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Connor W. Coley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Alfredo Alexander-Katz
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Detection and modulation of neurodegenerative processes using graphene-based nanomaterials: Nanoarchitectonics and applications. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 311:102824. [PMID: 36549182 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are caused by progressive loss of functional neurons following the aggregation and fibrillation of proteins in the central nervous system. The incidence rate continues to rise alarmingly worldwide, particularly in aged population, and the success of treatment remains limited to symptomatic relief. Graphene nanomaterials (GNs) have attracted immense interest on the account of their unique physicochemical and optoelectronic properties. The research over the past two decades has recognized their ability to interact with aggregation-prone neuronal proteins, regulate autophagy and modulate the electrophysiology of neuronal cells. Graphene can prevent the formation of higher order protein aggregates and facilitate the clearance of such deposits. In this review, after highlighting the role of protein fibrillation in neurodegeneration, we have discussed how GN-protein interactions can be exploited for preventing neurodegeneration. A comprehensive understanding of such interactions would contribute to the exploration of novel modalities for controlling neurodegenerative processes.
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Jia X, Liu Y, Qu Y, Li YQ, Liu X, Liu P, Li W. Electric Field-Controlled Peptide Self-Assembly through Funnel-Shaped Two-Dimensional Nanopores. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:51183-51189. [PMID: 36329605 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c13590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly of biomolecules is critical for the realization of biological functions. Thus, the precise control of self-assembly has great significance in the design of biochips and biomedical agents. In this report, we design a Y-shaped funnel on a two-dimensional (2D) heterostructure, called 2D funnel, based on monolayered polyaniline carbon nitride (C3N) and boron carbide (BC3), and study its application in the self-assembly state regulation of the peptide oligomer, using Aβ16-21 as the representative model. Structurally, the 2D funnel is composed of three regions: channel area, triangle area, and barrier area. The channel and triangle areas show higher binding affinity to the peptide than that of the barrier area, which leads to the confinement of the peptide in the 2D funnel. Our results show that when an external electric field is applied along the 2D funnel, the oligomer is driven to migrate across the funnel. Its trajectory is confined inside the narrow channel area, which effectively causes peptide dissociation into the individual peptide chains. Then, when the external electric field is turned off, the separated peptide chains spontaneously assemble in the triangle area and tend to reunite. Our present findings propose a novel heterostructure platform, which enables the manipulation of the self-assembly state of peptides by switching the electric field, which could guide the design and fabrication of nanodevices for sensing and sequencing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Jia
- School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
| | - Yuanyuan Qu
- School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
| | - Yong-Qiang Li
- School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
| | - Xiangdong Liu
- School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Institute of Frontier and Interdisciplinary Science and Key Laboratory of Particle Physics and Particle Irradiation (MOE), Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Weifeng Li
- School of Physics, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250100, China
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On the interface between biomaterials and two-dimensional materials for biomedical applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 186:114314. [PMID: 35568105 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered significant attention due to their ultrathin 2D structures with a high degree of anisotropy and functionality. Reliable manipulation of interfaces between 2D materials and biomaterials is a new frontier for biomedical nanoscience and combining biomaterials with 2D materials offers a promising way to fabricate innovative 2D biomaterials composites with distinct functionality for biomedical applications. Here, we focus exclusively on a summary of the current work in the interface investigation of 2D biomaterials. Specifically, we highlight extraordinary features that make 2D materials so desirable, as well as the molecular level interactions between 2D materials and biomaterials that have been studied thus far. Furthermore, the approaches for investigating the interface characteristics of 2D biomaterials are presented and described in depth. To capture the emerging trend in mass manufacturing of 2D materials, we review the research progress on biomaterial-assisted exfoliation. Finally, we present a critical assessment of newly developed 2D biomaterials in biomedical applications.
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Chen SH, Bell DR, Luan B. Understanding interactions between biomolecules and two-dimensional nanomaterials using in silico microscopes. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 186:114336. [PMID: 35597306 PMCID: PMC9212071 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials such as graphene are increasingly used in research and industry for various biomedical applications. Extensive experimental and theoretical studies have revealed that 2D nanomaterials are promising drug delivery vehicles, yet certain materials exhibit toxicity under biological conditions. So far, it is known that 2D nanomaterials possess strong adsorption propensities for biomolecules. To mitigate potential toxicity and retain favorable physical and chemical properties of 2D nanomaterials, it is necessary to explore the underlying mechanisms of interactions between biomolecules and nanomaterials for the subsequent design of biocompatible 2D nanomaterials for nanomedicine. The purpose of this review is to integrate experimental findings with theoretical observations and facilitate the study of 2D nanomaterial interaction with biomolecules at the molecular level. We discuss the current understanding and progress of 2D nanomaterial interaction with proteins, lipid membranes, and DNA based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. In this review, we focus on the 2D graphene nanosheet and briefly discuss other 2D nanomaterials. With the ever-growing computing power, we can image nanoscale processes using MD simulation that are otherwise not observable in experiment. We expect that molecular characterization of the complex behavior between 2D nanomaterials and biomolecules will help fulfill the goal of designing effective 2D nanomaterials as drug delivery platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena H Chen
- Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - David R Bell
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Binquan Luan
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Research, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, USA.
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Wang K, Wang L, Chen L, Peng C, Luo B, Mo J, Chen W. Intranasal administration of dauricine loaded on graphene oxide: multi-target therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Drug Deliv 2021; 28:580-593. [PMID: 33729067 PMCID: PMC7971267 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2021.1895909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by progressive cognitive and memory-related impairment. However, current therapeutic treatments have not proved sufficiently effective, mainly due to the complicated pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, a nano-formulation of graphene oxide (GO) loaded with dauricine (Dau) was investigated in terms of the combined anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects of Dau and the inhibition of misfolding and aggregation of the amyloid-β (Aβ) protein by GO. Both in vivo and in vitro models were induced using Aβ1-42, and the formulation was administered nasally in mice. The results showed that GO loaded with Dau greatly reduced oxidative stress through increasing superoxide dismutase levels and decreasing reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels in vitro; it also alleviated the cognitive memory deficits and brain glial cell activation in mice with Aβ1-42-induced AD. This proved that GO loaded with Dau could protect against Aβ1-42-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in both in vitro and in vivo AD models; therefore, GO loaded with Dau has the potential to be an effective and agent for the rapid treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixuan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Lingfeng Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ling Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Chiwei Peng
- School of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Beijiao Luo
- School of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Jingxin Mo
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
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9
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Tapeinos C. Graphene‐Based Nanotechnology in Neurodegenerative Disorders. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202000059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christos Tapeinos
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology Faculty of Pharmacy University of Helsinki Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
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Cholko T, Barnum J, Chang CEA. Amyloid-β (Aβ42) Peptide Aggregation Rate and Mechanism on Surfaces with Widely Varied Properties: Insights from Brownian Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:5549-5558. [PMID: 32525673 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c02926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, which form by aggregation of harmless Aβ peptide monomers into larger fibrils, are characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Efforts to treat Alzheimer's disease focus on stopping or reversing the aggregation process that leads to fibril formation. However, effective treatments are elusive due to certain unknown aspects of the process. Many hypotheses point to disruption of cell membranes by adsorbed Aβ monomers or oligomers, but how Aβ behaves and aggregates on surfaces of widely varying properties, such as those present in a cell, is unclear. Elucidating the effects of various surfaces on the dynamics of Aβ and the kinetics of the aggregation process from bulk solution to a surface-adsorbed multimer can help identify what drives aggregation, leading to new methods of intervention by inhibitory drugs or other means. In this work, we used all-atom Brownian dynamics simulations to study the association of two distinct Aβ42 monomer conformations with a surface-adsorbed or free-floating Aβ42 dimer. We calculated the association time, surface interaction energy, surface diffusion coefficient, surface residence time, and the mechanism of association on four different surfaces and two different bulk solution scenarios. In the presence of a surface, the majority of monomers underwent a two-dimensional surface-mediated association that depended primarily on an Aβ42 electrostatic interaction with the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surfaces. Moreover, aggregation could be inhibited greatly by surfaces with high affinity for Aβ42 and heterogeneous charge distribution. Our results can be used to identify new opportunities for disrupting or reversing the Aβ42 aggregation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Cholko
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Joseph Barnum
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Chia-En A Chang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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