GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Swedish researchers have found a promising new lead within the struggle in opposition to Alzheimer’s illness. They found that graphene oxide nanoflakes can assist yeast cells suffering from the amyloid peptides – molecules believed to be a key consider Alzheimer’s – to get better.
Alzheimer’s is a frightening illness. It’s a mind dysfunction that culminates in dementia and ultimately loss of life. Over 40 million folks worldwide are grappling with this illness or related forms of dementia. The worldwide monetary toll it takes is staggering, consuming about one p.c of the world’s gross home product.
On the crux of Alzheimer’s is the buildup of misfolded amyloid-beta peptides, generally referred to as Aβ peptides. These tiny molecules clump collectively within the mind, damaging neurons (brain cells) and consequently affecting mind perform. Fashionable medication hasn’t but discovered a option to fight this accumulation.
Chalmers College of Know-how researchers have proven that when yeast cells, burdened by these peptides, are handled with graphene oxide, there’s a marked discount within the gathered peptides.
“This impact of graphene oxide has lately additionally been proven by different researchers, however not in yeast cells”, says research first creator Xin Chen, a researcher in techniques biology at Chalmers, in a university release. “Our research additionally explains the mechanism behind the impact. Graphene oxide impacts the metabolism of the cells, in a manner that will increase their resistance to misfolded proteins and oxidative stress. This has not been beforehand reported.”
For this research, scientists opted for an uncommon however efficient mannequin: baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Regardless of its simplicity, the yeast’s protein-controlling techniques are eerily much like these in human cells, making it an apt mannequin to imitate human neurons affected by Alzheimer’s.
Yeast cells laden with a kind of amyloid peptide, referred to as amyloid-beta42, have been used within the research.
“The yeast cells in our mannequin resemble neurons affected by the buildup of amyloid-beta42, which is the type of amyloid peptide most liable to combination formation,” explains Chen. “These cells age sooner than regular, present endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, and have elevated manufacturing of dangerous reactive oxygen radicals.”
What are graphene oxide nanoflakes?
They’re minuscule, two-dimensional constructions fabricated from carbon, boasting spectacular conductivity and biocompatibility. Researchers throughout the globe are already harnessing their potential for endeavors like cancer treatments and drug supply.
A novel high quality of those nanoflakes is their potential to intervene in protein processes inside residing cells.
“Consequently, it may possibly hinder the formation of protein aggregates and promote the disintegration of present aggregates,” says research co-author Santosh Pandit, researcher in techniques biology at Chalmers. “We imagine that the nanoflakes act through two impartial pathways to mitigate the poisonous results of amyloid-beta42 within the yeast cells.”
Nevertheless, can this thrilling discovery be translated into an Alzheimer’s remedy? That is still to be seen. The crew at Chalmers is optimistic, noting that graphene oxide additionally appears to carry promise in opposition to different neurodegenerative conditions like Huntington’s disease.
“The following step is to analyze whether or not it’s attainable to develop a drug supply system primarily based on graphene oxide for Alzheimer’s illness,” notes Chen. “We additionally wish to check whether or not graphene oxide has useful results in extra fashions of neurodegenerative illnesses, reminiscent of Parkinson’s disease.”
The research is printed within the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
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