C₃N nanodots inhibits Aβ peptides aggregation pathogenic path in Alzheimer's disease

Despite the accumulating evidence linking the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) to the aggregation of Aβ peptides and the emergence of Aβ oligomers, the FDA has approved very few anti-aggregation-based therapies over the past several decades. Here, we report the discovery of an Aβ peptide aggregation inhibitor: an ultra-small nanodot called C₃N. C₃N nanodots alleviate aggregation-induced neuron cytotoxicity, rescue neuronal death, and prevent neurite damage in vitro. Importantly, they reduce the global cerebral Aβ peptides levels, particularly in fibrillar amyloid plaques, and restore synaptic loss in AD mice. Consequently, these C₃N nanodots significantly ameliorate behavioral deficits of APP/PS1 double transgenic male AD mice. Moreover, analysis of critical tissues (e.g., heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney) display no obvious pathological damage, suggesting C₃N nanodots are biologically safe. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations also reveal the inhibitory mechanisms of C₃N nanodots in Aβ peptides aggregation and its potential application against AD.

Xiuhua Yin, Hong Zhou, Mengling Zhang, Juan Su, Xiao Wang, Sijie Li, Zaixing Yang, Zhenhui Kang, Ruhong Zhou