The Evolving Use of Gold Nanoparticles as a Possible Reversal Agent for the Symptoms of Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Narrative Review

Authors

Alan D. Kaye, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Kelly R. Sala, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Drew Dethloff, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Matthew Norton, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Corey Moss, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Michael J. Plessala, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Alyssa G. Derouen, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Yair Lopez Torres, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Julian Kim, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Sridhar Tirumala, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Sahar Shekoohi, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA
Giustino Varrassi, Paolo Procacci Foundation, Rome, ITA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-18-2024

Publication Title

Cureus

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are broadly hallmarked by impaired energy metabolism and toxic intracellular accumulations such as damaged organelles or reactive oxygen species (ROS). Gold nanoparticles readily cross the blood-brain barrier and increase nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide + hydrogen (NADH) oxidation to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which is vital for intracellular energy generation, cellular repair, and protection from ROS. Thus, the use of gold nanoparticles to treat and potentially reverse cellular injury seen in neurodegenerative disease has been an area of ongoing research. This systematic review explores current literature regarding the use of gold nanoparticle therapy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS). In vitro studies of CNM-Au8 (Clene Nanomedicine, Salt Lake City, UT) have been shown to reduce TDP-43 aggregates associated with ALS. These studies also exhibited the neuroprotective effects of CNM-Au8 in rat primary neurons exposed to amyloid-beta peptides, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease. In animal models of MS, oral delivery of CNM-Au8 was demonstrated to produce robust and significant remyelination activity, oligodendrocyte maturation, and expression of myelin markers. In these same MS animal models, CNM-Au8 improved the motor function of cuprizone-treated mice in both open-field and kinematic gait studies. Recent phase II trials of CNM-Au8 in 13 patients with Parkinson's disease and 11 patients with stable relapsing MS demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the NAD+/NADH ratio across two cohorts. As the current data repeatedly suggest, these gold nanoparticles are efficacious for the treatment and reversal of symptoms across these varying neurodegenerative pathologies. Further opportunities exist for increasing human trials and eventually incorporating this new technology into existing treatment regimens.

First Page

e64846

PubMed ID

39156432

Volume

16

Issue

7

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Kaye, Alan D.; Sala, Kelly R.; Dethloff, Drew; Norton, Matthew; Moss, Corey; Plessala, Michael J.; Derouen, Alyssa G.; Lopez Torres, Yair; Kim, Julian; Tirumala, Sridhar; Shekoohi, Sahar; and Varrassi, Giustino, "The Evolving Use of Gold Nanoparticles as a Possible Reversal Agent for the Symptoms of Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Narrative Review" (2024). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 2941.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/2941
10.7759/cureus.64846