Synuclein 's hands were tied

Quantum dots cured Parkinson's disease in mice

Alexey Yevglevsky, Naked Science

During Parkinson's disease, a tremor develops, the cause of which is the accumulation of alpha–synuclein proteins in the brain. Scientists from Seoul University conducted an experiment on mice, which showed that quantum dots prevent the accumulation of proteins and improve motor abilities. The study was published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology (Kim et al., Graphene quantum dots prevent α-synucleopathy in Parkinson's disease).

Quantum dots are particles of a semiconductor material with a size close to the wavelength of an electron in this material. Their size is limited to a few nanometers – this property allows them to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (the border between blood and nerve tissue).

In vivo tests on mice have shown that graphene quantum dots (GQD) bind alpha-synuclein, preventing its transformation into fibrils – proteins with an elongated filamentous structure that contribute to the death of neurons. Moreover, the particles were able to break the existing fibrils into individual molecules. After injecting the sick mice with GQD, their ability to control limbs improved.

Alpha-synuclein without GQD (top) and with the effect of GQD (bottom) / Nature Nanotechnology

Professor Byung Hee Hong, who participated in the study, commented on the results:

"We did not expect that quantum dots induce disaggregation of fibrils. It is difficult to say how the same technology will affect real patients whose nervous system is much more complex. But we believe that quantum dots can help in overcoming the disease."

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