Eric Dyne, Graduate Research Student from Kent State University, Kent Ohio, United States. Eric discusses his research into Magnetothermal destruction of beta-amyloid plaques and how this can promote microglial clearance and dampen neuroinflammation.
Eric’s work uses nanoscience to investigate therapeutic options for inflammatory disorders along with other molecular biology techniques, and he is on track to defend his dissertation spring 2021. Mild-hypothermia has shown promise in various fields including cancer therapeutics and treating bacterial infections, our thoughts were that this technology can be used to target beta-amyloid accumulations within the brain. We found that mild hypothermia was sufficient to disrupt the non-covalent chemical bonds of beta-amyloid. Magnetic nano particles when localised to beta-amyloid plaques can be placed within an electrical field that interacts with the nanoparticles producing localised heat. This destruction of beta-amyloid plaques were observed after exposure to mild hypothermia and this promoted uptake and clearance of the smaller fragments by human microglia. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was significantly decreased after exposure to nanoparticles and mild-hypothermia. This research demonstrates a) destruction of beta-amyloid supports uptake and clearance by microglia b) beta-amyloid clearance restored inflammatory signalling and 3) mild-hypothermia can be safely applied to promote targeted peptide destruction without damaging local cells.
This Midday Lecture Webinar was recorded on the 1st July 2020 and is brought to you by the NIHR Dementia Researcher Website, and hosted by Adam Smith, Programme Director at the Office of the NIHR National Director for Dementia Research, University College London
If you would like to present your own lecture drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk
Adam Smith
