Chemically exfoliated WS2 nanosheets efficiently inhibit amyloid β-peptide aggregation and can be used for photothermal treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Polymerization of amyloid-beta peptide (A beta) into amyloid fibrils is a critical step in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inhibition of A beta aggregation and destabilization of preformed A beta fibrils have promising effects against AD and have been used in clinic trials. Herein, we demonstrate, for the first time, the application of WS2 nanosheets, to not only effectively inhibit A beta aggregation, but also dissociate preformed A beta aggregates upon near infrared (NIR) irradiation. Additionally, the biocompatible WS2 nanosheets possess the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to overcome the limitations of most previously reported A beta inhibitors. Through van der Waals and electrostatic interactions between A beta 40 and WS2, A beta 40 monomers can be selectively adsorbed on the surface of the nanosheet to inhibit the A beta 40 aggregation process. Intriguingly, the unique high NIR absorption property of WS2 enables amyloid aggregates to be dissolved upon NIR irradiation. These results will promote biological applications of WS2 and provide new insight into the design of multifunctional nanomaterials for AD treatment.