Linnaeite Mineral for NIR Light-Triggered Disruption of Alzheimer's Pore-Forming A beta Oligomers

Abstract

Minerals in the Earth's crust have contributed to the natural functioning of ecosystems via biogeochemical interactions. Linnaeite is a cobalt sulfide mineral with a cubic spinel structure that promotes charge transfer reactions with its surroundings. Here we report the hidden feature of linnaeite mineral to dissociate Alzheimer's beta-amyloid (A beta) oligomers under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the abnormal accumulation of self-assembled A beta peptides in the elderly brain. The beta-sheet structured pore- forming A beta oligomer (beta PFO) is the most neurotoxic species exacerbating the symptoms of AD. However, a therapeutic agent that is capable of inactivating beta PFO has not yet been developed. Our microscopic and spectroscopic analysis results have revealed that NIR-excited linnaeite mineral can modulate the structure of beta PFO by inducing oxidative modifications. We have verified that linnaeite mineral is biocompatible with and has a mitigating effect on the neurotoxicity of beta PFO. This study suggests that minerals in nature have potential as drugs to reduce AD pathology.