Phytochemical engineered quantum dots as potential therapy to counter alpha synuclein aggregation in Parkinson's...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that critically impairs human health and presently lacks effective cellular-level therapeutic interventions. The disease is primarily characterized by pathological aggregation of misfolded α-synuclein in presynaptic neurons, leading to dopaminergic neuronal loss. The limited efficacy of current pharmacological treatments stems largely from challenges in crossing the blood-brain barrier. Recent studies suggest that nano-phytomedicine approaches offer promising alternatives for PD management. Specifically, phytochemical-engineered carbon quantum dots (CQDs) show potential to modulate key pathological processes, including α-synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuronal degeneration. Evidence from related neurodegenerative models, such as Alzheimer's disease, reveals that multifunctional CQDs can scavenge reactive oxygen species, influence protein aggregation, and mitigate neurotoxicity. The synergistic integration of bioactive phytochemicals into CQDs could enhance drug bioavailability, pharmacokinetic properties, and cellular repair mechanisms while reducing toxicity. This review discusses the design strategies, therapeutic mechanisms, and biological interactions of phytochemical-engineered CQDs, emphasizing their potential as next-generation nanocarriers and intrinsic neurotherapeutic agents for PD treatment.