Download Volume 13, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 199

Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Volume 13, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 199-223
Nanotechnology solutions for Alzheimer's disease:
Advances in research tools, diagnostic methods and
therapeutic agents ( Review )
Nazem, A.b , Mansoori, G.A.ac
a UIC, M/C 063, 851 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7052, United States
b College of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
c Departments of Bio and Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607-7052, United
States
View references (148)
Abstract
A century of research has passed since the discovery and definition of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the primary
common dementing disorder worldwide. However, AD lacks definite diagnostic approaches and effective cure at the
present. Moreover, the currently available diagnostic tools are not sufficient for an early screening of AD in order to
start preventive approaches. Recently the emerging field of nanotechnology has promised new techniques to solve
some of the AD challenges. Nanotechnology refers to the techniques of designing and manufacturing nanosize (1100 nm) structures through controlled positional and/or self-assembly of atoms and molecules. In this report, we
present the promises that nanotechnology brings in research on the AD diagnosis and therapy. They include its
potential for the better understanding of the AD root cause molecular mechanisms, AD's early diagnoses, and
effective treatment. The advances in AD research offered by the atomic force microscopy, single molecule
fluorescence microscopy and NanoSIMS microscopy are examined here. In addition, the recently proposed
applications of nanotechnology for the early diagnosis of AD including bio-barcode assay, localized surface plasmon
resonance nanosensor, quantum dot and nanomechanical cantilever arrays are analyzed. Applications of
nanotechnology in AD therapy including neuroprotections against oxidative stress and anti-amyloid therapeutics,
neuroregeneration and drug delivery beyond the blood brain barrier (BBB) are discussed and analyzed. All of these
applications could improve the treatment approach of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. The complete cure
of AD may become feasible by a combination of nanotechnology and some other novel approaches, like stem cell
technology. © 2008 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.
Author keywords
Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid; Atomic force microscopy; Nanodiagnostics; Nanotechnology; Targeted drug delivery;
Tau protein
Indexed Keywords
EMTREE drug terms: 1,2 dioleoyl snglycero 3 phosphoethanolamine n [4 (4 maleimidophenyl)butyramide]; alpha
tocopherol; amyloid; amyloid beta protein; carbon nanotube; carboxyfullerene; cyanoacrylate derivative;
deferoxamine; dendrimer; donepezil; ethanolamine derivative; fullerene derivative; galantamine; gold; green
fluorescent protein; hydroxyfullerene; macrogol; maleimide derivative; memantine; nanoparticle; penicillamine; poly
(butyl 2 cyanoacrylate); polystyrene; pullulan; pyridyldithiopropionylphosphoethanolamine; quantum dot; rivastigmine;
tacrine; thioflavine; unindexed drug; tau protein
EMTREE medical terms: Alzheimer disease; atomic force microscopy; blood brain barrier; cell regeneration;
degenerative disease; diagnostic procedure; drug delivery system; electron microscopy; fluorescence microscopy;
fluorescence resonance energy transfer; human; mass spectrometry; nanotechnology; nerve cell; neuroprotection;
nonhuman; nuclear magnetic resonance; oxidative stress; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; review; surface
plasmon resonance; transmission electron microscopy; hospitalization; instrumentation; metabolism; pathology;
research; senile plaque; standard
MeSH: Alzheimer Disease; Humans; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Nanotechnology; Research; Senile Plaques;
Severity of Illness Index; tau Proteins
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: alpha tocopherol, 1406-18-4, 1406-70-8, 52225-20-4, 58-95-7, 59-02-9;
amyloid beta protein, 109770-29-8; amyloid, 11061-24-8; deferoxamine, 70-51-9; donepezil, 120011-70-3, 12001406-4, 142057-77-0; galantamine, 1953-04-4, 357-70-0; gold, 7440-57-5; macrogol, 25322-68-3; memantine, 1998208-2, 41100-52-1; penicillamine, 2219-30-9, 52-67-5; polystyrene, 9003-53-6; pullulan, 9057-02-7; rivastigmine,
129101-54-8; tacrine, 1684-40-8, 3198-41-2, 321-64-2; thioflavine, 2390-54-7;tau Proteins
ISSN: 13872877 CODEN: JADIFSource Type: Journal Original language: English
PubMed ID: 18376062Document Type: Review