μFTIR and nXRF study of the effect of DG4-His-Mal dendrimer encapsulated in liposomes in an Alzheimer Disease transgenic mice model: amyloid

Alzheimer Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative process distinct from normal ageing by the presence of Senile Plaques composed of Abeta peptide. Dendrimers have been shown to possess properties as antiamyloidogenic agent. Maltose modified dendrimers decorated with histidine’s (DG4-His-Mal) are nanoparticles that prevent APP/PS1 transgenic mice from developing cognitive deficit and μFTIR studies have shown that DG4-His-Mal reduce the formation of early aggregates and fibrils in the cortex. To improve this effect, we have administered DG4-His-Mal encapsulated in liposomes to 5xFAD transgenic mice (model for AD). The experiment is still on going, however, the midterm cognitive test show that DG4-His-Mal and liposomes alone improve the performance in cognitive test and have a synergic effect when administered together in AD transgenic mice. To understand the effects of these treatments we will combine histochemical analysis, with μFTIR (amyloid structure) and nXRF f(metal distribution).