Colloidal properties of biodegradable nanoparticles influence interaction with amyloid-ß peptide.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid-ß peptides (Aß). During the past few years, promising approaches based on nanotechnologies have emerged to alter Aß aggregation and its related toxicity. This study aims to investigate the influence of the nanoparticle colloidal properties over the interaction with Aß peptide 1-42 (Aß(1-42)). Using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection, it was shown that biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polylactide (PEG-b-PLA) nanoparticles were able to interact with Aß(1-42) peptide leading to its uptake in rather short time periods. In addition, we highlighted the crucial role of the nanocarrier colloidal properties on the uptake kinetics. Whereas nanoparticles stabilized by sodium cholate (lower size and higher negative surface charge) gave optimum uptake kinetics, nanoparticles stabilized with others surfactants presented lower interactions. In contrast, PEG density seemed to have no influence on the interaction when sodium cholate was used for the preparation. This study intends to give new insights into Aß(1-42) peptide interaction with nanoparticulate systems by helping to determine suitable nanoparticle characteristics regarding forthcoming therapeutic strategies against AD.

Selegiline-functionalized, PEGylated poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles: Investigation of interaction with amyloid-ß peptide and surface reorganization.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which the research of new treatments is highly challenging. Since the fibrillogenesis of amyloid-ß peptide 1-42 (Aß(1-42)) peptide is considered as a major cause of neuronal degeneration, specific interest has been focused on aromatic molecules for targeting this peptide. In this paper, the synthesis of selegiline-functionalized and fluorescent poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles (NPs) and their evaluation for the targeting of the Aß(1-42) peptide are reported. The synthetic strategy relied on the design of amphiphilic copolymers by tandem Knoevenagel-Michael addition of cyanoacetate derivatives, followed by their self-assembly in aqueous solutions to give the corresponding NPs. Different cyanoacetates were used: (i) hexadecyl cyanoacetate (HDCA) to form the hydrophobic core of the NPs; (ii) rhodamine B cyanoacetate (RCA) for fluorescent purposes; (iii) methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) cyanoacetate (MePEGCA) for stealth properties and (iv) selegiline-poly(ethylene glycol) cyanoacetate (SelPEGCA) to obtain the desired functionality. Two different amphiphilic copolymers were synthesized, a selegiline-containing copolymer, P(MePEGCA-co-SelPEGCA-co-HDCA), and a rhodamine-labelled counterpart, P(MePEGCA-co-RCA-co-HDCA), further blended at variable ratios to tune the amount of selegiline moieties displayed at the surface of the NPs. Optimal formulations involving the different amphiphilic copolymers were determined by the study of the NP colloidal characteristics. Interestingly, it was shown that the zeta potential value of the selegiline-functionalized nanoparticles dramatically decreased, thus emphasizing a significant modification in the surface charge of the nanoparticles. Capillary electrophoresis has then been used to test the ability of the selegiline-functionalized NPs to interact with the Aß(1-42) peptide. In comparison with non functionalized NPs, no increase of the interaction between these functionalized NPs and the monomeric form of the Aß(1-42) peptide was observed, thus highlighting the lack of availability of the ligand at the surface of the nanoparticles. A mechanism explaining this result has been proposed and was mainly based on the burial of the hydrophobic selegiline ligand within the nanoparticles core.