Nanoparticle-emitted light attenuates amyloid-β-induced superoxide and inflammation in astrocytes

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the sixth leading cause of age-related death with no effective intervention yet available. Our previous studies have demonstrated the potential efficacy of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in AD cell models by mitigating amyloid-beta peptide (A beta)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the penetration depth of light is still the major challenge for implementing LLLT in animal models and in the clinical settings. In this study, we present the potential of applying Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer to Quantum Dots (BRET-Qdots) as an alternative near infrared (NIR) light source for LLLT. Our results show that BRET-Qdot-emitted NIR suppresses A beta-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in primary rat astrocytes. These data provide a proof of concept for a nanomedicine platform for LLLT. From the Clinical Editor: Low Level Laser Therapy has already been demonstrated to mitigate amyloid-beta peptide induced oxidative stress and inflammation, a key driver of Alzheimer's disease. The major issue in moving this forward from cell cultures to live animals and potentially to human subjects is light penetration depth. In this novel study, BRET-Qdots were used as an alternative near infrared light source with good efficacy, paving the way to the development of a nanomedicine platform. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.