Gold Nanoparticles and Tau Protein

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been studied for their potential to mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly in relation to Tau protein and memory impairment. Here are some key findings:

• Alzheimer's Disease Treatment: AuNPs have been shown to reduce the high expression of total tau (T-tau), phosphorylated tau (P-tau), and amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein, which are associated with AD. This reduction helps in preventing the neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction that contribute to memory impairment and cognitive decline.

• Memory Improvement: In studies using an AD model (okadaic acid, OA), AuNPs treatment prevented the spatial memory deficit induced by OA. This suggests that AuNPs can help in maintaining or improving cognitive function and memory in AD models.

• Mechanism of Action: AuNPs protect human neural stem cells (hNSCs) from Aβ injury by regulating the miR-21-5p/SOCS6 pathway. This pathway plays a role in reducing apoptosis and improving mitochondrial function, which are crucial for maintaining neural health and preventing memory loss.

• Mitochondrial Protection: AuNPs increase mitochondrial membrane potential, activate expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in hNSCs. These actions help in preserving mitochondrial function, which is essential for neuronal survival and cognitive function.

In summary, AuNPs have shown promise in boosting memory and mitigating Tau protein-related damage in AD models by addressing multiple pathways involved in neurodegeneration.

References

• Gold Nanoparticles Treatment Reverses Brain Damage in Alzheimer's Disease Model

• Protective mechanism of gold nanoparticles on human neural stem cells injured by β-amyloid protein through miR-21–5p/SOCS6 pathway

• Neuron tau-targeting biomimetic nanoparticles for curcumin delivery to delay progression of Alzheimer’s disease

• Transporter protein and drug-conjugated gold nanoparticles capable of bypassing the blood-brain barrier