Interactions of the Aβ(1-42) Peptide with Boron Nitride Nanoparticles of Varying Curvature in an Aqueous Medium: Different Pathways to Inhibit β-Sheet Formation

The Cracked Potential of Boron-containing Compounds in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a relevant neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Its relevancy is mainly due to its high prevalence and high global burden. Metalloids have attracted attention as their serum levels seem to differ between affected patients and healthy individuals. On the other hand, atoms of some metalloids have been included in bioactive molecules, exerting some interesting effects, mainly due to their ameliorative effects in neurodegeneration. In this sense, boron-containing compounds (BCC) have been explored to regulate or prevent neurodegeneration. As an example, boric acid has been reported as a compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neurotrophic effects. Other natural BCCs have also shown amelioration of metabolic conditions often related to increased risk of neurodegenerative maladies. However, in recent years, additional organoboron compounds have been reported as active in several processes linked to neurodegeneration and especially attractive as regulators of the origin and progression of AD. In this mini-review, some data are collected suggesting that some natural BCC could be used as preventive agents, but also the potential of some BODIPYs as tools for diagnosis and some other BCC (particularly boronic acids and pinacol boronic esters) for acting as promising therapeutic agents for AD.

Exploring the Curvature-Dependence of Boron Nitride Nanoparticles on the Inhibition of hIAPP Aggregation

Nanoparticles, particularly carbon nanoparticles, have gathered significant interest in the field of anti-aggregation research. However, due to their cytotoxicity, the exploration of biocompatible nanoparticles has become a new frontier in the quest for drugs against human amyloid diseases. The application of non-cytotoxic and biocompatible boron nitride (BN) nanoparticles against amyloid aggregation has been probed to tackle this issue. BN nanoparticles displayed inhibitory activity against the aggregation of Aβ and α-syn peptides. In this work, the effect of BN nanoparticles on the dimerization of hIAPP, which is associated with the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, is studied. BN nanoparticles prevent the misfolding of hIAPP into β-sheet-rich aggregates. On varying the curvature, the nanoparticles display variation in the interaction preference with hIAPP. Interestingly, as the hydrophobicity of the nanoparticles increases from (5,5) BN nanotube to BN nanosheet, the interaction propensity shifts from N-terminal to the amyloid prone C-terminal of hIAPP. The hydrophobic and aromatic stacking interactions are a contributing factor toward the binding between hIAPP and BN. Due to this, the flat surface of the nanosheet shows better interaction potential toward hIAPP, compared to the nanotubes. Further, the nanoparticles can also disassemble preformed hIAPP fibrils, and the effect is more pronounced for (5,5) nanotube and the nanosheet. This study provides insight into the inhibitory mechanism of hIAPP aggregation by boron nitride nanoparticles and also an understanding of the significance of the curvature of nanoparticles in their interaction with amyloid peptides, which is valuable for the design of antiamyloid drugs.

Boron-containing compounds on neurons: Actions and potential applications for treating neurodegenerative diseases

Boron-containing compounds (BCC) exert effects on neurons. After the expanding of both the identification and synthesis of new BCC, novel effects in living systems have been reported, many of these involving neuronal action. In this review, the actions of BCC on neurons are described; the effects have been inferred by boron deprivation or addition. Also, the effects can be related to those mediated by interaction on ionic channels, G-protein coupled receptors, or other receptors exerting modification on neuronal behavior. Additionally, BCC have exhibited effects by the modulation of inflammation or oxidative processes. BCC are expanding as drugs. Deprivation of boron sources from the diet shows the role of some natural BCC. However, the observations of several new synthesized compounds suggest their ability to act with attractive potency, efficacy, and long-term action on neuronal receptors or processes related with the origin and evolution of neurodegenerative processes. The details of BCC-target interactions are currently being elucidated in progress, as those observed from BCC-protein crystal complexes. Taking all of the above into account, the expansion is presumably near to having studies on the application of BCC as drugs on specific targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

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.

Understanding interactions between biomolecules and two-dimensional nanomaterials using in silico microscopes

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials such as graphene are increasingly used in research and industry for various biomedical applications. Extensive experimental and theoretical studies have revealed that 2D nanomaterials are promising drug delivery vehicles, yet certain materials exhibit toxicity under biological conditions. So far, it is known that 2D nanomaterials possess strong adsorption propensities for biomolecules. To mitigate potential toxicity and retain favorable physical and chemical properties of 2D nanomaterials, it is necessary to explore the underlying mechanisms of interactions between biomolecules and nanomaterials for the subsequent design of biocompatible 2D nanomaterials for nanomedicine. The purpose of this review is to integrate experimental findings with theoretical observations and facilitate the study of 2D nanomaterial interaction with biomolecules at the molecular level. We discuss the current understanding and progress of 2D nanomaterial interaction with proteins, lipid membranes, and DNA based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. In this review, we focus on the 2D graphene nanosheet and briefly discuss other 2D nanomaterials. With the ever-growing computing power, we can image nanoscale processes using MD simulation that are otherwise not observable in experiment. We expect that molecular characterization of the complex behavior between 2D nanomaterials and biomolecules will help fulfill the goal of designing effective 2D nanomaterials as drug delivery platforms.

Influence of ion specificity and concentration on the conformational transition of intrinsically disordered sheep prion peptide

The structural sensitivity of the IDPs with the ions has been observed experimentally; however, it is still unclear how the presence of different metal ions affects structural stability. We performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of sheep prion peptide (142-167) in presence of different monovalent, divalent ions at various concentrations to find out the effect of the size, charge, and ionic concentration on the structure of the peptide. It is found that Li + ions have a higher survival probability compared to Na + , K + and Mg2 + affecting the solvation structure of the protein leading to the alpha-helix structure. At high concentration, due to the increase in the ion-solvent and ion-counter interactions, the effect of the ions is screened on the surface of the protein and hence no ion specificity is observed. This study demonstrates how ions can be used to regulate the protein structure and function that can help in designing drugs.

The Role of Microbiome in Brain Development and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Hundreds of billions of commensal microorganisms live in and on our bodies, most of which colonize the gut shortly after birth and stay there for the rest of our lives. In animal models, bidirectional communications between the central nervous system and gut microbiota (Gut-Brain Axis) have been extensively studied, and it is clear that changes in microbiota composition play a vital role in the pathogenesis of various neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, anxiety, stress, and so on. The makeup of the microbiome is impacted by a variety of factors, such as genetics, health status, method of delivery, environment, nutrition, and exercise, and the present understanding of the role of gut microbiota and its metabolites in the preservation of brain functioning and the development of the aforementioned neurological illnesses is summarized in this review article. Furthermore, we discuss current breakthroughs in the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics to address neurological illnesses. Moreover, we also discussed the role of boron-based diet in memory, boron and microbiome relation, boron as anti-inflammatory agents, and boron in neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, in the coming years, boron reagents will play a significant role to improve dysbiosis and will open new areas for researchers.