Influence of the physiochemical properties of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on amyloid β protein fibrillation in solution

Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation Mechanism in the Presence of Nanomaterials

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the toxic oligomeric and fibrillar phases formed by monomeric alpha-synuclein (α-syn). Certain nanoparticles have been demonstrated to promote protein aggregation, while other nanomaterials have been found to prevent the process. In the current work, we use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in conjunction with isothermal titration calorimetry to investigate the cause and mechanism of these opposing effects at the amino acid protein level. The interaction of α-syn with two types of nanomaterials was considered: citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and graphene oxide (GO). In the presence of AuNPs, α-syn aggregation is accelerated, whereas in the presence of GO, aggregation is prevented. The study indicates that GO sequesters the NAC region of α-syn monomers through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, leading to a reduced elongation rate, and AuNPs leave the NAC region exposed while binding the N-terminus, leading to higher aggregation. The protein's inclination toward quicker aggregation is explained by the binding of the N-terminus of α-syn with the gold nanoparticles. Conversely, a comparatively stronger interaction with GO causes the nucleation and growth phases to be postponed and inhibits intermolecular interactions. Our finding offers novel experimental insights at the residue level regarding the aggregation of α-syn in the presence of various nanomaterials and creates new opportunities for the development of suitably functionalized nanomaterial-based therapeutic reagents against Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Curcumin-derived carbon quantum dots: Dual actions in mitigating tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid beta aggregation

The amyloid cascade and tau hypotheses both hold significant implications for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Curcumin shows potential by inhibiting the aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and reducing tau hyperphosphorylation, however, its use is limited due to issues with solubility and bioavailability. Carbon dots, recognized for their high biocompatibility and optimal water solubility, have demonstrated the capability to inhibit either Aβ or tau aggregation. Nonetheless, their effects on tau hyperphosphorylation are yet to be extensively explored. This study aims to evaluate the water-soluble curcumin-derived carbon quantum dots (Cur-CQDs) synthesized via an eco-friendly method, designed to preserve the beneficial effects of curcumin while overcoming solubility challenges. The synthesis of Cur-CQDs involves a single-step dry heating process using curcumin, resulting in dots that exhibit negligible cytotoxicity to SH-SY5Y cells at the examined concentrations. Notably, Cur-CQDs have shown the ability to simultaneously mitigate Aβ aggregation and tau hyperphosphorylation. Therefore, it is suggested that Cur-CQDs may hold potential for AD treatment, a hypothesis deserving of further research.

Intranasal Drug Delivery by Nanotechnology: Advances in and Challenges for Alzheimer's Disease Management

Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition, is characterized by a gradual decline in cognitive functions. Current treatment approaches primarily involve the administration of medications through oral, parenteral, and transdermal routes, aiming to improve cognitive function and alleviate symptoms. However, these treatments face limitations, such as low bioavailability and inadequate permeation. Alternative invasive methods, while explored, often entail discomfort and require specialized assistance. Therefore, the development of a non-invasive and efficient delivery system is crucial. Intranasal delivery has emerged as a potential solution, although it is constrained by the unique conditions of the nasal cavity. An innovative approach involves the use of nano-carriers based on nanotechnology for intranasal delivery. This strategy has the potential to overcome current limitations by providing enhanced bioavailability, improved permeation, effective traversal of the blood-brain barrier, extended retention within the body, and precise targeting of the brain. The comprehensive review focuses on the advancements in designing various types of nano-carriers, including polymeric nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, Quantum dots, and dendrimers. These nano-carriers are specifically tailored for the intranasal delivery of therapeutic agents aimed at combatting Alzheimer's disease. In summary, the development and utilization of intranasal delivery systems based on nanotechnology show significant potential in surmounting the constraints of current Alzheimer's disease treatment strategies. Nevertheless, it is essential to acknowledge regulatory as well as toxicity concerns associated with this route; meticulous consideration is required when engineering a carrier. This comprehensive review underscores the potential to revolutionize Alzheimer's disease management and highlights the importance of addressing regulatory considerations for safe and effective implementations. Embracing this strategy could lead to substantial advancements in the field of Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Design of Magnetic Fe3O4/CeO2 "Core/Shell"-Like Nanocomposites with Pronounced Antiamyloidogenic and Antioxidant Bioactivity

"Core/shell" nanocomposites based on magnetic magnetite (Fe3O4) and redox-active cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are promising in the field of biomedical interests because they can combine the ability of magnetic NPs to heat up in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) with the pronounced antioxidant activity of CeO2 NPs. Thus, this report is devoted to Fe3O4/CeO2 nanocomposites (NCPs) synthesized by precipitation of the computed amount of "CeO2-shell" on the surface of prefabricated Fe3O4 NPs. The X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy data validated the formation of Fe3O4/CeO2 "core/shell"-like NCPs, in which ultrafine CeO2 NPs with an average size of approximately 3-3.5 nm neatly surround Fe3O4 NPs. The presence of a CeO2 "shell" significantly increased the stability of Fe3O4/CeO2 NCPs in aqueous suspensions: Fe3O4/CeO2 NCPs with "shell thicknesses" of 5 and 7 nm formed highly stable magnetic fluids with ζ-potential values of >+30 mV. The magnetization values of Fe3O4/CeO2 NCPs decreased with a growing CeO2 "shell" around the magnetic NPs; however, the resulting composites retained the ability to heat efficiently in an AMF. The presence of a CeO2 "shell" generates a possibility to precisely regulate tuning of the maximum heating temperature of magnetic NCPs in the 42-50 °C range and stabilize it after a certain time of exposure to an AMF by changing the thickness of the "CeO2-shell". A great improvement was observed in both antioxidant and antiamyloidogenic activities. It was found that inhibition of insulin amyloid formation, expressed in IC50 concentration, using NCPs with a "shell thickness" of 7 nm was approximately 10 times lower compared to that of pure CeO2. For these NCPs, more than 2 times higher superoxide dismutase-like activity was observed. The coupling of both Fe3O4 and CeO2 results in higher bioactivity than either of them individually, probably due to a synergistic catalytic mechanism.

Inhibitory effect of plain and functionalized graphene nanoplateles on hen egg white lysozyme fibrillation

Protein fibrillation is a phenomenon associated with misfolding and the production of highly ordered nanofibrils, which may cause serious degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and type 2 diabetes. Upon contact with biological fluids, the nanomaterials are immediately covered by proteins and interact with them. In this study, the effects of Graphene NanoPlateles (Plain-GNPs) and their modified forms with a carboxyl group (GNPs -COOH) and an amine group (GNPs -NH2) are evaluated on the fibrillation process of Hen Egg White Lysozyme (HEWL). The fibrillation process of HEWL was studied using thioflavin-T, Circular Dichroism spectrometry, and Atomic Force Microscopy. Plain-GNPs significantly decreased the fibrillation process at different stages, including nucleation, exponential fibrillation phases, and end-mature fibril products. However, GNPs-COOH and GNPs-NH2 affected the final fluorescence of ThT. The species formed in the presence of Plain-GNPs showed less toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, which could be applicable for therapeutic purposes.

Microfluidic Synthesis of Ultrasmall Chitosan/Graphene Quantum Dots Particles for Intranasal Delivery in Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

Nanoparticles (NPs) based therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) attract interest due to their ability to pass across or bypass the blood-brain barrier. Chitosan (CS) NPs or graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are promising drug carriers with excellent physicochemical and electrical properties. The current study proposes the combination of CS and GQDs in ultrasmall NP form not as drug carriers but as theranostic agents for AD. The microfluidic-based synthesis of the CS/GQD NPs with optimized characteristics makes them ideal for transcellular transfer and brain targeting after intranasal (IN) delivery. The NPs have the ability to enter the cytoplasm of C6 glioma cells in vitro and show dose and time-dependent effects on the viability of the cells. IN administration of the NPs to streptozotocin (STZ) induced AD-like models lead to a significant number of entrances of the treated rats to the target arm in the radial arm water maze (RAWM) test. It shows the positive effect of the NPs on the memory recovery of the treated rats. The NPs are detectable in the brain via in vivo bioimaging due to GQDs as diagnostic markers. The noncytotoxic NPs localize in the myelinated axons of hippocampal neurons. They do not affect the clearance of amyloid β (Aβ) plaques at intercellular space. Moreover, they showed no positive impact on the enhancement of MAP2 and NeuN expression as markers of neural regeneration. The memory improvement in treated AD rats may be due to neuroprotection via the anti-inflammation effect and regulation of the brain tissue microenvironment that needs to be studied.

A Promising Approach: Magnetic Nanosystems for Alzheimer's Disease Theranostics

Among central nervous system (CNS) disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and a major cause of dementia worldwide. The yet unclear etiology of AD and the high impenetrability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limit most therapeutic compounds from reaching the brain. Although many efforts have been made to effectively deliver drugs to the CNS, both invasive and noninvasive strategies employed often come with associated side effects. Nanotechnology-based approaches such as nanoparticles (NPs), which can act as multifunctional platforms in a single system, emerged as a potential solution for current AD theranostics. Among these, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are an appealing strategy since they can act as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and as drug delivery systems. The nanocarrier functionalization with specific moieties, such as peptides, proteins, and antibodies, influences the particles' interaction with brain endothelial cell constituents, facilitating transport across the BBB and possibly increasing brain penetration. In this review, we introduce MNP-based systems, combining surface modifications with the particles' physical properties for molecular imaging, as a novel neuro-targeted strategy for AD theranostics. The main goal is to highlight the potential of multifunctional MNPs and their advances as a dual nanotechnological diagnosis and treatment platform for neurodegenerative disorders.

Effect of substrate charge density on the adsorption of intrinsically disordered protein amyloid β40: a molecular dynamics study

The inhibitory effect of negatively charged gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on amyloidogenic protein fibrillation has been established from experiments and computer simulations. Here, we investigate the effect of the charge density (σ) of gold (Au) surfaces on the adsorption of the intrinsically disordered amyloid β40 (Aβ40) monomer using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. On the basis of the binding free energy, some key residues (ARG5, LYS16, LYS28, LEU17-ALA21, ILE31-VAL38) were found to be responsible for preventing the β-sheet formation, which is known to be a precursor for fibrillation. Until a critical charge density (σ_c) of -0.167 e nm^-2, the key residues remained adsorbed on the Au slab. A saturation in the number of condensed counterions (Na⁺) on Aβ40 was also observed at σ_c. Beyond σ_c, the condensation of Na⁺ occurs only on the Au slab, leading to competition between positively charged key residues and condensed ions. This competition was found to be responsible for the lack of adsorption of the key residues, leading to β-sheet formation for σ > -0.167 e nm^-2. This study suggests that if the key residues are not adsorbed, then β-sheet formation is observed, which can then lead to the development of proto-fibrils and subsequently fibrillation. Therefore the surface should have an optimal charge density to be an effective inhibitor of fibrillation.

Nanomedicine-based immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease caused by the deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) fibrils forming extracellular plaques and the development of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) of intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Currently, the AD treatments focus on improving cognitive and behavioral symptoms and have limited success. It is imperative to develop novel treatment approaches that can control/inhibit AD progression, especially in the elderly population. Immunotherapy provides a promising and safe treatment option for AD by boosting the patient's immune system. The minimum immune surveillance in the immune-privileged brain, however, makes immunotherapy for AD a challenging endeavor. Therefore, the success of AD immunotherapy depends mainly on the strategy by which therapeutics is delivered to the brain rather than its efficacy. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major obstacle to therapeutic delivery into the brain microenvironment. Various nano-formulations have been exploited to improve the efficacy of AD immunotherapy. In this review, the applications of different types of nano-formulations in augmenting AD immunotherapy have been discussed.

Advanced nanomaterials for modulating Alzheimer's related amyloid aggregation

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that brings about enormous economic pressure to families and society. Inhibiting abnormal aggregation of Aβ and accelerating the dissociation of aggregates is treated as an effective method to prevent and treat AD. Recently, nanomaterials have been applied in AD treatment due to their excellent physicochemical properties and drug activity. As a drug delivery platform or inhibitor, various excellent nanomaterials have exhibited potential in inhibiting Aβ fibrillation, disaggregating, and clearing mature amyloid plaques by enhancing the performance of drugs. This review comprehensively summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of nanomaterials in modulating amyloid aggregation and AD treatment. The design of various functional nanomaterials is discussed, and the strategies for improved properties toward AD treatment are analyzed. Finally, the challenges faced by nanomaterials with different dimensions in AD-related amyloid aggregate modulation are expounded, and the prospects of nanomaterials are proposed.

Inhibition Of Tau Protein Aggregation By a Chaperone-like β-Boswellic Acid Conjugated To Gold Nanoparticles

A potential therapeutic strategy to inhibit tau protein aggregation in neurons has substantial effects on preventing or controlling Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this work, we designed a covalent and noncovalent conjugation of β-boswellic acid (BA) to gold nanoparticles (GNPs). We provided the opportunity to investigate the effect of the surface composition of BA-GNPs on the aggregation of the tau protein 1N/4R isoform in vitro. HR-TEM and FESEM micrographs revealed that GNPs were spherical and uniform, smaller than 25 nm. According to UV-visible and FTIR data, BA was successfully conjugated to GNPs. The finding illustrates the effect of the surface charge, size, and hydrophobicity of BA-GNPs on the kinetics of tau protein aggregation. The size and surface area of U-G-BA demonstrated that inhibited tau aggregation more effectively than covalently linked BA. The proposed method for preventing tau aggregation was monomer reduction. At the same time, a chaperone-like feature of GNP-BA while sustaining a tau native structure prevented the additional formation of fibrils. Overall, this study provides insight into the interaction of GNP-BAs with a monomer of tau protein and may suggest novel future therapies for AD.

Nanomedicines in the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease: Current View and Future Prospects

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a kind of dementia that creates serious challenges for sufferers’ memory, thinking, and behavior. It commonly targeting the aging population and decay the brain cells, despite attempts have been performed to enhance AD diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Hence, AD remains incurable owing to its complex and multifactorial consequences and still there is lack of appropriate diagnostics/therapeutics option for this severe brain disorder. Therefore, nanotechnology is currently bringing new tools and insights to improve the previous knowledge of AD and ultimately may provide a novel treatment option and a ray of hope to AD patients. Here in this review, we highlighted the nanotechnologies-based findings for AD, in both diagnostic and therapeutic aspects and explained how advances in the field of nanotechnology/nanomedicine could enhance patient prognosis and quality of life. It is highly expected these emerging technologies could bring a research-based revolution in the field of neurodegenerative disorders and may assist their clinical experiments and develop an efficacious drug for AD also. The main aim of review is to showcase readers the recent advances in nanotechnology-based approaches for treatment and diagnosing of AD.

Natural Product-based Nanomedicine: Recent Advances and Issues for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects the elderly and is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration caused by different pathologies. The most significant challenges in treating AD include the inability of medications to reach the brain because of its poor solubility, low bioavailability, and the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Additionally, current evidence suggests the disruption of BBB plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. One of the critical challenges in treating AD is the ineffective treatments and their severe adverse effects. Nanotechnology offers an alternative approach to facilitate the treatment of AD by overcoming the challenges in drug transport across the BBB. Various nanoparticles (NP) loaded with natural products were reported to aid in drug delivery for the treatment of AD. The nano-sized entities of NP are great platforms for incorporating active materials from natural products into formulations that can be delivered effectively to the intended action site without compromising the material's bioactivity. The review highlights the applications of medicinal plants, their derived components, and various nanomedicinebased approaches for the treatment of AD. The combination of medicinal plants and nanotechnology may lead to new theragnostic solutions for the treatment of AD in the future.

Dual-Functional Antioxidant and Antiamyloid Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Fabricated by Controlled Synthesis in Water-Alcohol Solutions

Oxidative stress is known to be associated with a number of degenerative diseases. A better knowledge of the interplay between oxidative stress and amyloidogenesis is crucial for the understanding of both, aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs, nanoceria) due to their remarkable properties are perspective nanomaterials in the study of the processes accompanying oxidative-stress-related diseases, including amyloid-related pathologies. In the present work, we analyze the effects of CeO₂ NPs of different sizes and Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺ ratios on the fibrillogenesis of insulin, SOD-like enzymatic activity, oxidative stress, biocompatibility, and cell metabolic activity. CeO₂ NPs (marked as Ce1–Ce5) with controlled physical–chemical parameters, such as different sizes and various Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺ ratios, are synthesized by precipitation in water–alcohol solutions. All synthesized NPs are monodispersed and exhibit good stability in aqueous suspensions. ThT and ANS fluorescence assays and AFM are applied to monitor the insulin amyloid aggregation and antiamyloid aggregation activity of CeO₂ NPs. The analyzed Ce1–Ce5 nanoparticles strongly inhibit the formation of insulin amyloid aggregates in vitro. The bioactivity is analyzed using SOD and MTT assays, Western blot, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry. The antioxidative effects and bioactivity of nanoparticles are size- or valence-dependent. CeO₂ NPs show great potential benefits for studying the interplay between oxidative stress and amyloid-related diseases, and can be used for verification of the role of oxidative stress in amyloid-related diseases.

Neurotechnological Approaches to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, clinically defined by progressive cognitive decline and pathologically, by brain atrophy, neuroinflammation, and accumulation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Neurotechnological approaches, including optogenetics and deep brain stimulation, have exploded as new tools for not only the study of the brain but also for application in the treatment of neurological diseases. Here, we review the current state of AD therapeutics and recent advancements in both invasive and non-invasive neurotechnologies that can be used to ameliorate AD pathology, including neurostimulation via optogenetics, photobiomodulation, electrical stimulation, ultrasound stimulation, and magnetic neurostimulation, as well as nanotechnologies employing nanovectors, magnetic nanoparticles, and quantum dots. We also discuss the current challenges in developing these neurotechnological tools and the prospects for implementing them in the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Inhibiting protein aggregation with nanomaterials: The underlying mechanisms and impact factors

Protein aggregation is correlated with the onset and progression of protein misfolding diseases (PMDs). Inhibiting the generation of toxic aggregates of misfolded proteins has been proposed as a therapeutic approach for PMDs. Due to their unique properties, nanomaterials have been extensively investigated for their ability to inhibit protein aggregation and have shown great potential in the diagnosis and treatment of PMDs. However, the precise mechanisms by which nanomaterials interact with amyloidogenic proteins and the factors influencing these interactions remain poorly understood. Consequently, developing a rational design strategy for nanomaterials that target specific proteins in PMDs has been challenging. In this review, we elucidate the effects of nanomaterials on protein aggregation and describe the mechanisms through which nanomaterials interfere with protein aggregation. The major factors impacting protein-nanomaterial interaction such as size, charge, concentration, surface modification and morphology that can be rationally addressed to achieve the desired effects of nanomaterials on protein aggregation are summarized. The prospects and challenges to the clinical application of nanomaterials for the treatment of PMDs are also discussed.

Adsorption of the amyloid β40 monomer on charged gold nanoparticles and slabs: a molecular dynamics study

Negatively charged nanoparticles are known to inhibit the fibrillation of amyloidogenic protein amyloid β (Aβ40), though the overall charge on the protein is negative. In this work a molecular dynamics study is reported to investigate the interaction of Aβ40 on negatively charged gold nanoparticles (3-5 nm) and charged (positive and negative) and neutral gold slabs. The equilibrium structures of Aβ40 on gold surfaces are characterized using residue-specific contacts on the gold surface, secondary structure analysis and binding free energy calculations. The simulation results reveal that the Aβ40 protein in water interconverts into β-sheets, which are building blocks of the mature fibrils, whereas on gold nanoparticles Aβ40 unfolds and adsorbs. Both the negatively charged gold nanoparticles and gold slabs arrest the formation of β-sheets in Aβ40, whereas the positively charged gold slab does not inhibit the formation of β-sheets. The residue-specific interactions between Aβ40 and the gold surfaces are important in governing the adsorption of Aβ40 on charged surfaces.

Nanotherapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease with Preclinical Evaluation and Clinical Trials: Challenges, Promises and Limitations

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder, is the most common form of dementia worldwide. Currently, there is no disease-modifying AD drug, and the development of effective treatments is made even harder by the highly selective nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that allows the passage only of molecules with specific chemical-physical properties. In this context, nanomedicine and its nanoparticles (NPs) offer potential solutions to the challenge of AD therapy, in particular, the requirements for i) BBB crossing, ii) multitarget therapy iii) enhancement of pharmacokinetics; and iv) more precise delivery. In addition, the possibility to optimize NP biophysical and biological (i.e. target-specific ligands) properties allows for highly tailored delivery platforms. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that nanotherapeutics provide superior pharmacokinetics and brain uptake than free drugs and, on the other hand, these are also able to mitigate the side-effects of the symptomatic treatments approved by the FDA. Among the plethora of potential AD nanodrugs, multitarget nanotherapeutics are considered the most promising strategy due to their ability to hit simultaneously multiple pathogenic factors, while nano-nutraceuticals are emerging as interesting tools in the treatment/prevention of AD. This review provides a comprehensive overview of nanomedicine in AD therapy, focusing on key optimization of NPs properties, most promising nanotherapeutics in preclinical studies and difficulties that are limiting the efficient translation from bench to bedside.

Dual-targeted carbon-dot-drugs nanoassemblies for modulating Alzheimer's related amyloid-β aggregation and inhibiting fungal infection

Amyloid aggregation and fungal infection, especially amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide and Candida albicans are considered as two of the crucial pathogenic agents in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this work, we propose an innovative treatment strategy for AD, targeting at not only Aβ aggregation but also Candida albicans infection. Here, a high-performance nanomaterial, namely gCDs-E, have been prepared by self-assembled of glycosylated carbon dots (gCDs) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Surprisingly, gCDs-E can not only suppress the fibrillation of Aβ and disaggregate Aβ fibrils, but also effectively inhibit the activity of Candida albicans. More importantly, the prepared gCDs-E can effectively cut down the cytotoxicity of amyloid aggregations, and the cell viability reached to 99.2%. In addition, the capability of the gCDs-E for blood brain barrier (BBB) penetration was also observed using a normal mice model. Above all, the gCDs-E greatly cleaned Aβ deposition and improved memory impairment in APP/PS1 transgenic AD model mice, confirming its potential as therapeutic agent for AD treatment.

Nanomaterials for Modulating the Aggregation of β-Amyloid Peptides

The aberrant aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides in the brain has been recognized as the major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, the inhibition and dissociation of Aβ aggregation are believed to be effective therapeutic strategiesforthe prevention and treatment of AD. When integrated with traditional agents and biomolecules, nanomaterials can overcome their intrinsic shortcomings and boost their efficiency via synergistic effects. This article provides an overview of recent efforts to utilize nanomaterials with superior properties to propose effective platforms for AD treatment. The underlying mechanismsthat are involved in modulating Aβ aggregation are discussed. The summary of nanomaterials-based modulation of Aβ aggregation may help researchers to understand the critical roles in therapeutic agents and provide new insight into the exploration of more promising anti-amyloid agents and tactics in AD theranostics.

PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) ameliorate learning and memory deficit in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease: Potential participation of STIMs

The amyloid-beta (Aβ) fibrillation process seems to execute a principal role in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accordingly, novel therapeutic plans have concentrated on the inhibition or degradation of Aβ oligomers and fibrils. Biocompatible nanoparticles (NPs), e.g., gold and iron oxide NPs, take a unique capacity in redirecting Aβ fibrillation kinetics; nevertheless, their impacts on AD-related memory impairment have not been adequately evaluated in vivo. Here, we examined the effect of commercial PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) on the learning and memory of an AD-animal model. The outcomes demonstrated the dose-dependent effect of SPIONs on Aβ fibrillation and learning and memory processes. In vitro and in vivo findings revealed that Low doses of SPIONs inhibited Aβ aggregation and ameliorated learning and memory deficit in the AD model, respectively. Enhanced level of hippocampal proteins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, phosphorylated-cAMP response element-binding protein, p-CREB, and stromal interaction molecules, e.g., STIM1 and STIM2, were also observed. However, at high doses, SPIONs did not improve the detrimental impacts of Aβ fibrillation on spatial memory and hippocampal proteins expression. Overall, we revealed the potential capacity of SPIONs on retrieval of behavioral and molecular manifestations of AD in vivo, which needs further investigations to determine the mechanistic effect of SPIONs in the AD conundrum.

From Small Molecules to Synthesized Polymers: Potential Role in Combating Amyloidogenic Disorders

The concept of developing novel anti-amyloid inhibitors in the scientific community has engrossed remarkable research interests and embraced significant potential to resolve numerous pathological conditions including neurological as well as non-neuropathic disorders associated with amyloid protein aggregation. These pathological conditions have harmful effects on cellular activities which include malfunctioning of organs and tissue, cellular impairment, etc. To date, different types of small molecular probes like polyphenolic compounds, nanomaterials, surfactants, etc. have been developed to address these issues. Recently synthetic polymeric materials are extensively investigated to explore their role in the protein aggregation pathway. On the basis of these perspectives, in this review article, we have comprehensively summarized the current perspectives on protein misfolding and aggregation and importance of therapeutic approaches in designing novel effective inhibitors. The main purpose of this review article is to provide a detailed perspective of the current landscape as well as trailblazing voyage of various inhibitors ranging from small molecular probes to polymeric scaffolds in the field of protein misfolding and aggregation. A particular emphasis is given on the structural role and molecular mechanistic pathway involved in modulating the aggregation pathway to further inspire the researchers and shed light in this bright research field.

Potential treatment of Parkinson's disease using new-generation carbon nanotubes: a biomolecular in silico study

Background: One of the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson's disease is the aggregation of α-synuclein proteins, including amyloids and Lewy bodies in the brain. Aim: To study the inhibitory effect of doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on amyloid aggregation. Materials & methods: Molecular dynamics tools were utilized to simulate the influence of CNTs doped with phosphorus, nitrogen and bromine and nitrogen on the formation of α-synuclein amyloid. Results: The CNTs exhibited strong interactions with α-synuclein, with phosphorus-doped CNTs having the most substantial interactions. Conclusion: Doped-CNTs, especially phosphorus-doped carbon nanotube could effectively prevent α-synuclein amyloid formation, thus, it could be considered as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease. However, further in vitro and clinical investigations are required.

Impact of porous nanomaterials on inhibiting protein aggregation behaviour

Aggregation of intrinsically disordered as well as the ordered proteins under certain premises or physiological conditions leads to pathological disorder. Here we have presented a detailed investigation on the effect of a porous metallic (Au) and a non-metallic (Si) nanomaterial on the formation of ordered (fiber-like/amyloid) and disordered (amorphous) aggregates of proteins. Porous nanogold (PNG) was found to reduce the amyloid aggregation of insulin but does not have much impact on the lag phase in the aggregation kinetics, whereas porous nano-silica (PNS) was found both to decrease the amount of aggregation as well as prolong the lag phase of amyloid fiber formation from insulin. On the other hand, both the porous nanoparticles are found to decrease the extent of amorphous aggregation (with slight improvement for PNS) of pathogenic huntingtin (Htt) protein in Huntington's disease cell model. This is a noted direct observation in controlling and understanding protein aggregation diseases which may help us to formulate nanotherapeutic drugs for future clinical applications.

Aggregation of intrinsically disordered as well as the ordered proteins under certain premises or physiological conditions leads to pathological disorder.

Therapeutic Strategies and Nano-Drug Delivery Applications in Management of Aging Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which the death of brain cells causes memory loss and cognitive decline. Existing drugs only suppress symptoms or delay further deterioration but do not address the cause of the disease. In spite of screening numerous drug candidates against various molecular targets of AD, only a few candidates, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, are currently utilized as an effective clinical therapy. Currently, nano-based therapies can make a difference, providing new therapeutic options by helping drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain more effectively. The main aim of this review was to highlight advances in research on the development of nano-based therapeutics for improved treatment of AD.

Nanochaperone-Based Strategies to Control Protein Aggregation Linked to Conformational Diseases

The generation of highly organized amyloid fibrils is associated with a wide range of conformational pathologies, including primarily neurodegenerative diseases. Such disorders are characterized by misfolded proteins that lose their normal physiological roles and acquire toxicity. Recent findings suggest that proteostasis network impairment may be one of the causes leading to the accumulation and spread of amyloids. These observations are certainly contributing to a new focus in anti-amyloid drug design, whose efforts are so far being centered on single-target approaches aimed at inhibiting amyloid aggregation. Chaperones, known to maintain proteostasis, hence represent interesting targets for the development of novel therapeutics owing to their potential protective role against protein misfolding diseases. In this minireview, research on nanoparticles that can either emulate or help molecular chaperones in recognizing and/or correcting protein misfolding is discussed. The nascent concept of "nanochaperone" may indeed set future directions towards the development of cost-effective, disease-modifying drugs to treat several currently fatal disorders.

Tandem-Mass-Tag Based Proteomic Analysis Facilitates Analyzing Critical Factors of Porous Silicon Nanoparticles in Determining Their Biological Responses under Diseased Condition

The analysis of nanoparticles' biocompatibility and immunogenicity is mostly performed under a healthy condition. However, more clinically relevant evaluation conducted under pathological condition is less known. Here, the immunogenicity and bio-nano interactions of porous silicon nanoparticles (PSi NPs) are evaluated in an acute liver inflammation mice model. Interestingly, a new mechanism in which PSi NPs can remit the hepatocellular damage and inflammation activation in a surface dependent manner through protein corona formation, which perturbs the inflammation by capturing the pro-inflammatory signaling proteins that are inordinately excreted or exposed under pathological condition, is found. This signal sequestration further attenuates the nuclear factor κB pathway activation and cytokines production from macrophages. Hence, the study proposes a potential mechanism for elucidating the altered immunogenicity of nanomaterials under pathological conditions, which might further offer insights to establish harmonized standards for assessing the biosafety of biomaterials in a disease-specific or personalized manner.

Nanomaterial synthesis, an enabler of amyloidosis inhibition against human diseases

Amyloid diseases are global epidemics with no cure currently available. In the past decade, the use of engineered nanomaterials as inhibitors or probes against the pathogenic aggregation of amyloid peptides and proteins has emerged as a new frontier in nanomedicine. In this Minireview, we summarize for the first time the pivotal role of chemical synthesis in enabling the development of this multidisciplinary field.

Nanoparticles as contrast agents for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review

Nanoparticle (NP)-based magnetic contrast agents have opened the potential for MRI to be used for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This article aims to review the current progress of research in this field. A comprehensive literature search was performed based on PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, PsychINFO and Scopus databases using the following terms: ‘Alzheimer’s disease’ AND ‘nanoparticles’ AND ‘Magnetic Resonance Imaging.’ 33 studies were included that described the development and utility of various NPs for AD imaging, including their coating, functionalization, MRI relaxivity, toxicity and bioavailability. NPs show immense promise for neuroimaging, due to superior relaxivity and biocompatibility compared with currently available imaging agents. Consistent reporting is imperative for further progress in this field.

Application of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases With Emphasis on Alzheimer's Disease

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by chronic progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the nervous system, which brings an enormous burden on patients, their families, and society. It is difficult to make early diagnosis, resulting from the insidious onset and progressive development of neurodegenerative diseases. The drugs on the market cannot cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) effectively, which leads to unfavorable prognosis and less effective treatments. Therefore, there is an urgent demand to develop a novel detection method and therapeutic strategies. Recently, nanomedicine has aroused considerable attention for diagnosis and therapy of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Nanoparticles integrate targeting, imaging, and therapy in one system and facilitate the entry of drug molecules across the blood-brain barrier, offering new hope to patients. In this review, we summarize the application of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We focus on IONPs as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (CAs) and drug carriers in AD. What most neurodegenerative diseases have in common is that hall marker lesions are represented by protein aggregates (Soto and Pritzkow, 2018). These diseases are of unknown etiology and unfavorable prognosis, and the treatments toward them are less effective (Soto and Pritzkow, 2018). Such diseases usually develop in aged people, and early clinical manifestations are atypical, resulting in difficulty in early diagnosis. Recently, nanomedicine has aroused considerable attention for therapy and diagnosis of CNS diseases because it integrates targeting, imaging, and therapy in one system (Gupta et al., 2019). In this review article, we first introduce the neurodegenerative diseases and commonly used MRI CAs. Then we review the application of IONPs in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with the purpose of assisting early theranostics (therapy and diagnosis).

Biomedical Applications of Zeolitic Nanoparticles, with an Emphasis on Medical Interventions

The advent of porous materials, in particular zeolitic nanoparticles, has opened up unprecedented putative research avenues in nanomedicine. Zeolites with intracrystal mesopores are low framework density aluminosilicates possessing a regular porous structure along with intricate channels. Their unique physiochemical as well as physiological parameters necessitate a comprehensive overview on their classifications, fabrication platforms, cellular/macromolecular interactions, and eventually their prospective biomedical applications through illustrating the challenges and opportunities in different integrative medical and pharmaceutical fields. More particularly, an update on recent advances in zeolite-accommodated drug delivery and the prevalent challenges regarding these molecular sieves is to be presented. In conclusion, strategies to accelerate the translation of these porous materials from bench to bedside along with common overlooked physiological and pharmacological factors of zeolite nanoparticles are discussed and debated. Furthermore, for zeolite nanoparticles, it is a matter of crucial importance, in terms of biosafety and nanotoxicology, to appreciate the zeolite-bio interface once the zeolite nanoparticles are exposed to the bio-macromolecules in biological media. We specifically shed light on interactions of zeolite nanoparticles with fibrinogen and amyloid beta which had been comprehensively investigated in our recent reports. Given the significance of zeolite nanoparticles' interactions with serum or interstitial proteins conferring them new biological identity, the preliminary approaches for deeper understanding of administration, distribution, metabolism and excretion of zeolite nanoparticles are elucidated.

Bio-orthogonal triazolinedione (TAD) crosslinked protein nanocapsules affect protein adsorption and cell interaction

Albumin-based protein nanocarriers obtained by TAD click chemistry have been widely exploited as drug delivery systems, since they show excellent degradability, low toxicity, but at the same time provide high loading capacity and relevant uptake into cells.

Combustion and friction-derived nanoparticles and industrial-sourced nanoparticles: The culprit of Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases

Redox-active, strongly magnetic, combustion and friction-derived nanoparticles (CFDNPs) are abundant in particulate matter air pollution. Urban children and young adults with Alzheimer disease Continuum have higher numbers of brain CFDNPs versus clean air controls. CFDNPs surface charge, dynamic magnetic susceptibility, iron content and redox activity contribute to ROS generation, neurovascular unit (NVU), mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) damage, and are catalysts for protein misfolding, aggregation and fibrillation. CFDNPs respond to external magnetic fields and are involved in cell damage by agglomeration/clustering, magnetic rotation and/or hyperthermia. This review focus in the interaction of CFDNPs, nanomedicine and industrial NPs with biological systems and the impact of portals of entry, particle sizes, surface charge, biomolecular corona, biodistribution, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular toxicity, anterograde and retrograde axonal transport, brain dysfunction and pathology. NPs toxicity information come from researchers synthetizing particles and improving their performance for drug delivery, drug targeting, magnetic resonance imaging and heat mediators for cancer therapy. Critical information includes how these NPs overcome all barriers, the NPs protein corona changes as they cross the NVU and the complexity of NPs interaction with soluble proteins and key organelles. Oxidative, ER and mitochondrial stress, and a faulty complex protein quality control are at the core of Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases and NPs mechanisms of action and toxicity are strong candidates for early development and progression of both fatal diseases. Nanoparticle exposure regardless of sources carries a high risk for the developing brain homeostasis and ought to be included in the AD and PD research framework.

α-synuclein interaction with zero-valent iron nanoparticles accelerates structural rearrangement into amyloid-susceptible structure with increased cytotoxic tendency

Aim

It has been indicated that NPs may change the amyloidogenic steps of proteins and relevant cytotoxicity. Therefore, this report assigned to explore the impact of ZVFe NPs on the amyloidogenicity and cytotoxicity of α-synuclein as one of the many known amyloid proteins.

Methods

The characterization of α-synuclein at amyloidogenic condition either alone or with ZVFe NPs was carried out by fluorescence, CD, UV-visible spectroscopic methods, TEM study, docking, and molecular modeling. The cytotoxicity assay of α-synuclein amyloid in the absence and presence of ZVFe NPs was also done by MTT, LDH, and flow cytometry analysis.

Results

ThT fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that ZVFe NPs shorten the lag phase and accelerate the fibrillation rate of α-synuclein. Nile red and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, CD, Congo red adsorption, and TEM studies indicated that ZVFe NP increased the propensity of α-synuclein into the amyloid fibrillation. Molecular docking study revealed that hydrophilic residues, such as Ser-9 and Lys-12 provide proper sites for hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions with adsorbed water molecules on ZVFe NPs, respectively. Molecular dynamics study determined that the interacted protein shifted from a natively discorded conformation toward a more packed structure. Cellular assay displayed that the cytotoxicity of α-synuclein amyloid against SH-SY5Y cells in the presence of ZVFe NPs is greater than the results obtained without ZVFe NPs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the existence of ZVFe NPs promotes α-synuclein fibrillation at amyloidogenic conditions by forming a potential template for nucleation, the growth of α-synuclein fibrillation and induced cytotoxicity.

Self-assembly of plant protein fibrils interacting with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

In situ fibrillation of plant proteins in presence of the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) promoted formation of a hybrid nanocomposite. The morphology of NP-fibril composite was revealed using ex-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air. The NP-fibrils were associated into extended multi-fibril structures, indicating that the addition of NPs promoted protein association via β-sheet assembly. Real-time movement of NPs attached to fibrils under an external magnetic field was visualized using in-situ AFM in liquid, revealing that composite structures were stable at low pH, and displaying dipolar property of the NPs in the composite at high pH. Changes in magnetic properties of NPs when interacting with protein fibrils were quantitatively mapped using magnetic force microscopy (MFM). The magnetic moment of the NPs in composite was increased by co-existing with protein at low pH, while their dipolar nature was maintained at high pH. Self-assembly of the protein into fibrils is accelerated with increasing NP concentration within an optimal range, which is attributed to a fibrillation-competent conformation of the peptides. The latter was explained by the formation of favorable hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, and efficient surface energy transfer between NPs and proteins.

Modulation of β-amyloid aggregation by graphene quantum dots

Misfolding and abnormal aggregation of β-amyloid peptide is associated with the onset and progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, modulating β-amyloid aggregation is critical for the treatment of AD. Herein, we studied the regulatory effects and mechanism of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) on 1-42 β-amyloid (Aβ_1-42) aggregation. GQDs displayed significant regulatory effects on the aggregation of Aβ_1-42 peptide as detected by thioflavin T (ThT) assay. Then, the changes of confirmations and structures induced by GQDs on the Aβ_1-42 aggregation were monitored by circular dichroism (CD), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The in vitro cytotoxicity experiments further demonstrated the feasibility of GQDs on the regulation of Aβ_1-42 aggregation. Meanwhile, the structural changes of a Aβ_1-42/GQDs mixture in different pH revealed that electrostatic interaction was the major driving force in the co-assembly process of Aβ_1-42 and GQDs. The proposed mechanism of the regulatory effects of GQDs on the Aβ_1-42 aggregation was also deduced reasonably. This work not only demonstrated the potential feasibility of GQDs as therapeutic drug for AD but also clarified the regulatory mechanism of GQDs on the Aβ_1-42 aggregation.

Impact of Gold Nanoparticles on Amyloid β-Induced Alzheimer's Disease in a Rat Animal Model: Involvement of STIM Proteins

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative amyloid disorder causing progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. A considerable number of therapies for AD rely on inhibition/delay/dissociation of amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomers and fibrils. In this case, nanoparticles (NPs) demonstrated substantial effects on the Aβ fibrillation process; however, their effects on progressive cognitive decline and memory have been poorly investigated in vivo. In this study, acquisition and retention of spatial learning and memory are studied in a rat animal model of AD after intrahippocampal (IH) and intraperitoneal (IP) injections of a model NP, i.e., gold NPs (AuNPs). The outcomes revealed that the AuNPs could improve the acquisition and retention of spatial learning and memory in Aβ treated rats as indicated by decreased time (Aβ: 39.60 ± 3.23 s vs Aβ+AuNPs: 25.78 ± 2.80 s) and distance (Aβ: 917.98 ± 50.81 cm vs Aβ+AuNPs: 589.09 ± 65.96 cm) of finding the hidden platform during training days and by increased time spent in the target quadrant (Aβ: 19.40 ± 0.98 s vs Aβ+AuNPs: 29.36 ± 1.14 s) in the probe test in Morris water maze (MWM). Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, cAMP response element binding protein, CREB, and stromal interaction molecules, e.g., STIM1 and STIM2 was also increased, supporting improved neural survival. Our outcomes may pave a way for mechanistic insights toward the role of NPs on retrieval of the deteriorated behavioral functions in brain tissue after AD outbreak.

A health concern regarding the protein corona, aggregation and disaggregation

Nanoparticle (NP)-protein complexes exhibit the "correct identity" of NP in biological media. Therefore, protein-NP interactions should be closely explored to understand and modulate the nature of NPs in medical implementations. This review focuses mainly on the physicochemical parameters such as dimension, surface chemistry, morphology of NPs, and influence of pH on the formation of protein corona and conformational changes of adsorbed proteins by different kinds of techniques. Also, the impact of protein corona on the colloidal stability of NPs is discussed. Uncontrolled protein attachment on NPs may bring unwanted impacts such as protein denaturation and aggregation. In contrast, controlled protein adsorption by optimal concentration, size, pH, and surface modification of NPs may result in potential implementation of NPs as therapeutic agents especially for disaggregation of amyloid fibrils. Also, the effect of NPs-protein corona on reducing the cytotoxicity and clinical implications such as drug delivery, cancer therapy, imaging and diagnosis will be discussed. Validated correlative physicochemical parameters for NP-protein corona formation frequently derived from protein corona fingerprints of NPs which are more valid than the parameters obtained only on the base of NP features. This review may provide useful information regarding the potency as well as the adverse effects of NPs to predict their behavior in vivo.

Chirality-Selected Chemical Modulation of Amyloid Aggregation

Due to the composed α-helical/β-strand structures, β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is sensitive to chiral environments. The orientation and chirality of the Aβ strand strongly influence its aggregation. Aβ-formed fibrils have a cascade of chirality. Therefore, for selectively targeting amyloid aggregates, chirality preference can be one key issue. Inspired by the natural stereoselectivity and the β-sheet structure, herein, we synthesized a series of d- and l-amino acid-modified polyoxometalate (POM) derivatives, including positively charged amino acids (d-His and l-His) and negatively charged (d-Glu and l-Glu) and hydrophobic amino acids (d-Leu, l-Leu, d-Phe, and l-Phe), to modulate Aβ aggregation. Intriguingly, Phe-modified POMs showed a stronger inhibition effect than other amino acid-modified POMs, as evidenced by multiple biophysical and spectral assays, including fluorescence, circular dichroism, NMR, molecular dynamic simulations, and isothermal titration calorimetry. More importantly, d-Phe-modified POM had an 8-fold stronger inhibition effect than l-Phe-modified POM, indicating high enantioselectivity. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrated that the chiral POM derivatives crossed the blood-brain barrier, extended the life span of AD transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans CL2006 strain, and had low cytotoxicity, even at a high dosage.

Influence of crowding and surfaces on protein amyloidogenesis: A thermo-kinetic perspective

The last few decades have irreversibly implicated protein self-assembly and aggregation leading to amyloid fibril formation in proteopathies that include several neurodegenerative diseases. Emerging studies recognize the importance of eliciting the pathways leading to protein aggregation in the context of the crowded intracellular environment rather than in conventional in vitro conditions. It is found that crowded environments can have acceleratory as well as inhibitory effects on protein aggregation, depending on the interplay of underlying factors on the crucial rate limiting steps. The aggregation mechanism and transient species formed along the pathway are further altered when they interface with natural and artificial surfaces in the cellular milieu. An increasing number of studies probe the autocatalytic nature of amyloid surfaces as well as membrane bilayer effects on amyloidogenesis. Moreover, exposure to modern nanosurfaces via nanomedicines and other sources potentially invokes beneficial or deleterious biological response that needs rigorous investigation. Mounting evidences indicate that nanoparticles can either promote or impede amyloid aggregation, spurring efforts to tune their interactions for developing effective anti-amyloid strategies. Mechanistic insights into nanoparticle mediated aggregation pathways are therefore crucial for engineering anti-amyloid nanoparticle strategies that are biocompatible and sustainable. This review is a compilation of studies that contribute to the current understanding of the altering effects of molecular crowding as well as natural and artificial surfaces on protein amyloidogenesis.

Mechanistic Understanding of the Interactions between Nano-Objects with Different Surface Properties and α-Synuclein

Aggregation of the natively unfolded protein α-synuclein (α-syn) is key to the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Some nanoparticles (NPs) can inhibit this process and in turn be used for treatment of PD. Using simulation strategies, we show here that α-syn self-assembly is electrostatically driven. Dimerization by head-to-head monomer contact is triggered by dipole-dipole interactions and subsequently stabilized by van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds. Therefore, we hypothesized that charged nano-objects could interfere with this process and thus prevent α-syn fibrillation. In our simulations, positively and negatively charged graphene sheets or superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs first interacted with α-syn's N/C terminally charged residues and then with hydrophobic residues in the non-amyloid-β component (61-95) region. In the experimental setup, we demonstrated that the charged nano-objects have the capacity not only to strongly inhibit α-syn fibrillation (both nucleation and elongation) but also to disaggregate the mature fibrils. Through the α-syn fibrillation process, the charged nano-objects induced the formation of off-pathway oligomers.