Curcumin derivatives with improved physicochemical properties and nanoliposomes surface-decorated with the derivatives with very high affinity for amyloid-beta1-42 peptide

摘要

Amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates are considered as possible targets for therapy and/or diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD). It has been previously shown that curcumin targets Aβ plaques and interferes with their formation, suggesting a potential role for prevention or treatment of AD. In the present invention, curcumin-derivatives with improved physicochemical properties were synthesized and a "click chemistry" as well as a conventional liposome preparation method, were used to generate nanoliposomes decorated with the curcumin derivatives. These derivatives were designed to maintain the planar structure required for interaction with Aβ, as directly confirmed by Surface Plasmon Resonance experiments. Surface Plasmon Resonance experiments, measuring the binding of flowing liposomes to immobilized Aβ1-42, indicated that the liposomes exposing curcumin derivatives have extremely high affinity for Aβ1-42 fibrils (1-5 nM), likely because of the occurrence of multivalent interactions. The present invention describes the synthesis of the curcumin derivatives and the preparation and characterization of new nanoliposomes with a very high affinity for Aβ1-42 fibrils, to be exploited as vectors for the targeted delivery of new diagnostic and therapeutic molecules for AD.