Nanoimaging to Prevent and Treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases. Scientific/Technical report
This project will develop innovative approaches to characterization of the very early stages of protein aggregation that eventually can be translated to the development of early diagnostic tools and efficient treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. Funding will be used to acquire nanoimaging technology for nanoscale imaging, manipulation and analysis of biomedical materials to develop treatments that will repair disabled proteins and cure diseases that result from protein malfunction, specifically Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Expected outcomes include tests for early diagnosis and therapeutic treatments for these devastating neurological diseases. To elucidate the mechanisms of protein misfolding, we will establish an extensive program of experimental studies using a broad arsenal of advanced nanoscale and traditional techniques that will be integrated with molecular-scale modeling of protein misfolding and the nucleation of aggregate structures. To identify intracellular machinery or/and multicomponent complexes critically involved in protein misfolding, we will characterize interactions between targeted proteins and specific intracellular components or metabolites that impact on protein conformational pathways leading to protein misfolding accompanied by formation of toxic aggregated morphologies. To design innovative nanotechnology tools for the control of intracellular protein misfolding and aggregation processes, we will develop a predictive molecular scale model for intracellular protein misfolding and the formation of toxic aggregates. Verified through experimental studies, the objective is to establish an enabling foundation for the engineering of novel molecular diagnostics and therapeutics for various cellular pathologies.
- Research Organization:
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE NA Office of Infrastructure and Environment (NA-50); USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-08ER64579
- OSTI ID:
- 1057905
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER64579
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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