A comparative study of resveratrol and resveratrol-functional selenium nanoparticles: Inhibiting amyloid β aggregation and reactive oxygen species formation properties

Deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates and formation of neurotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) are significant pathological signatures of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Resveratrol (Res) is an antioxidant with the potential to treat AD. However, the bioavailability and solubility of Res is very low and it cannot entirely inhibit Cu²⁺ -induced Aβ42 aggregation at low concentration. Herein, we combine the unique Aβ absorption property of selenium nanoparticles with the natural antioxidant agent Res to form Res@SeNPs. Our in vitro biological evaluation revealed that modification of Res with SeNPs provides a synergistic effect on Cu²⁺ -induced Aβ42 aggregation, ROS generation and, more importantly, protects PC12 cells from Aβ42-Cu²⁺ complexes-induced cell death. It is believed that SeNPs can improve the application of Res in AD treatment as Res@SeNPs is more efficient than Res in reducing Aβ42 toxicity in long-term use. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 3034-3041, 2018.