Other Metallic Nanoparticles
Promising results have been observed in the utilization of metallic
nanoparticles, including iron and titanium nanoparticles, for
diminishing tau protein concentrations and impeding tau aggregation in
therapeutic interventions targeting Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The study conducted by Sonawane et al. studied the development and
utilization of protein-capped nanoparticles to effectively impede tau
aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD)116.
Researchers discovered that the utilization of protein-capped iron oxide
and cadmium sulfide nanoparticles exhibited a significant inhibitory
effect on the process of tau polymerization, thereby effectively
impeding the aggregation of tau proteins. The experimental findings
indicated that protein-capped nanoparticles exhibited notable efficacy
in suppressing tau aggregation. Specifically, the protein-capped cadmium
sulfide nanoparticles exhibited a remarkable 63% inhibition rate,
whereas the protein-capped iron oxide nanoparticles demonstrated a
significant inhibition rate of 49 %. Moreover, it has been observed
that iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized through biological means can
impede the process of tau aggregation. This was achieved through the
adsorption of intermediate tau aggregates onto the surface of these
nanoparticles, thereby hindering any subsequent fibrillation. The
experimental results indicate that the nanoparticles capped with
proteins exhibited a notable decrease in their cytotoxic effects and a
concomitant increase in their biocompatibility compared to the metallic
nanoparticles that lacked such protein coatings116.
In their study, Tan et al. synthesized titanium dioxide (TiO2)
nanoparticles and subsequently conjugated the surfaces of these
nanoparticles with porous nylon substrates117. The
purpose of this conjugation was to enable selective enrichment of
phosphopeptides, which were then subjected to mass spectrometry (MS)
analysis. The utilization of this methodology facilitates the
comprehensive examination of protein phosphorylation sites and their
corresponding patterns, thereby playing a pivotal role in the
elucidation of pathological conditions characterized by excessive
phosphorylation events117,118. The present
investigation involved conducting in vivo experiments using porous nylon
TiO2 nanoparticles to elucidate the crucial phosphorylation sites of tau
protein in the context of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression. The
aforementioned findings have the potential to lay the groundwork for the
advancement of more targeted and efficient therapeutic interventions
aimed at suppressing tau
hyperphosphorylation117,119,120.
The investigation of various metallic nanoparticles, such as silver,
zinc, and platinum, for their potential application in the treatment of
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been limited. This was primarily attributed
to their inadequate biocompatibility and cytotoxic effects. Iron and
titanium nanoparticles have emerged as promising candidates for AD
therapy. These nanoparticles have the potential to selectively target
tau protein and its phosphorylation processes, thereby offering
prospects for therapeutic interventions in AD. Additional investigations
are warranted to substantiate the efficacy and safety of the
aforementioned interventions for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) in both preclinical and clinical contexts.