Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs)
Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have garnered considerable interest in the fields of biotechnology, biomedicine, and radiation medicine, primarily because of their distinctive attributes, including size-dependent optical properties and minimal cytotoxicity105. Within the realm of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), it is worth noting that gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) present themselves as a potentially fruitful avenue for exploration in terms of both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Au NPs have been employed as colorimetric sensors and metal ion detectors to investigate the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The research conducted by Neely et al. developed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugated with anti-tau antibodies105,112. This conjugation allowed for the detection of tau protein concentration by leveraging the interaction between the antibodies and tau protein antigen. Utilization of this particular methodology facilitated the identification of exceedingly minute quantities of amyloid-beta (AD) and tau proteins in cerebrospinal fluid, thereby establishing the potential of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as a viable diagnostic instrument for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Similarly, Zhang et al. developed a formulation of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) surface-conjugated with a polyA aptamer (PAapt)113. The objective of their study was to enable simultaneous detection of amyloid-beta (1-42) oligomers and tau protein levels. The remarkable specificity exhibited by PAapt Au NPs in their ability to selectively identify tau proteins and amyloid-beta (1-42) oligomers, while remaining unaffected by the presence of non-target proteins, renders them highly promising candidates for the development of efficient clinical diagnostic tools aimed at detecting multiple protein biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
A series of investigations conducted by Vimal et al. elucidated the therapeutic advantages associated with the use of Au-PEG nanoparticles in the context of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)114. The administration of nanogold polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugate resulted in notable enhancements in cognitive function among transgenic tau P301L mutant mice, as evidenced by a reduction in the levels of phosphorylated tau and total tau. Au-PEG nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated notable inhibitory effects on amyloidosis in ex vivo studies involving patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These findings indicate that Au-PEG NPs hold promise as a viable treatment for AD.
In addition, a study conducted by Ghalandari et al. involved the synthesis of folic acid-functionalized Au nanoparticles as well as gold iron oxide (Fe3O4) core-shell nanoparticles103,115. Notably, both types of nanoparticles exhibited notable affinity for tubulin and tau proteins. Functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) exhibit considerable potential for the development of targeted drug delivery systems for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The utilization of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research is highly advantageous because of their distinctive characteristics and compatibility with biological systems103. The provision of opportunities for early diagnosis and potential therapeutic interventions represents a significant advancement in the field as it introduces novel avenues for effectively addressing the challenges presented by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it is imperative to conduct additional research and clinical studies to comprehensively understand and exploit the potential of (Au NPs) in the management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).