Silver-functionalized carbon dots regulate amyloid aggregation and microbial infection

Abstract

Amyloid accumulation and microbial infections are major risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, most of the current drugs are limited to singletarget therapeutic strategies against amyloid or microbial infections, resulting in poor clinical treatment effects. Here, we propose a novel multi-targeted therapeutic strategy that can achieve multiple effects of inhibition of amyloid aggregation, depolymerization of mature amyloid fibrils, and anti-microbial infection. Experiments conducted in vitro have shown that when the concentration of silver-functionalized carbon dots (Ag@TACDs) is as low as 10 μg/mL, it has a significant impact on the misfolding of Aβ 42 and the depolymerization process of Aβ 42 fibrils. And, it has an outstanding ability to resist bacterial infections. At the same time, Ag@TACDs have good biocompatibility, enhance cell activity, and alleviate the cytotoxicity caused by Aβ 42 oligomers. Our approach provides an effective strategy for the design of multitarget inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease.