Magnetoelectric dissociation of Alzheimer's beta-amyloid aggregates

Abstract

The abnormal self-assembly of beta-amyloid (A beta) peptides and their deposition in the brain is a major pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent chronic neurodegenerative disease affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide. Here, we report a newly discovered function of magnetoelectric nanomaterials for the dissociation of highly stable A beta aggregates under low-frequency magnetic field. We synthesized magnetoelectric BiFeO3-coated CoFe2O4 (BCFO) nanoparticles, which emit excited charge carriers in response to low-frequency magnetic field without generating heat. We demonstrated that the magnetoelectric coupling effect of BCFO nanoparticles successfully dissociates A beta aggregates via water and dissolved oxygen molecules. Our cytotoxicity evaluation confirmed the alleviating effect of magnetoelectrically excited BCFO nanoparticles on A beta-associated toxicity. We found high efficacy of BCFO nanoparticles for the clearance of microsized A beta plaques in ex vivo brain tissues of an AD mouse model. This study shows the potential of magnetoelectric materials for future AD treatment using magnetic field.