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.