Quantum Dots in Brain Could Treat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases

A study published in Nature Nanotechnology found quantum dots can mitigate symptoms in mice dosed to develop Parkinson's disease, and also impede formation of the toxic protein clumps in Alzheimer's, reports New Scientist . In a dish, quantum dots produced from graphene bind to synuclein, preventing it from fiber clumping as well as triggering the breakup of existing fibers into individual molecules, the researchers found. They injected quantum dots into mice dosed with fibrils, and the animals exhibited improvement on two different physical tests six months later. A second team found quantum dots also show promise for Alzheimer's disease because they bind to amyloid protein and reduce it from clumping. "This might be a universal effect on any kind of fibrillation process related to disease," suggests Byung Hee Hong with Seoul National University. His team is exploring the use of quantum dots in Alzheimer's and motor neuron disease, which also involves protein clumping.