A self-destructive nanosweeper that captures and clears amyloid β-peptides

Cerebral amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) accumulation resulting from an imbalance between A beta production and clearance is one of the most important causes in the formation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In order to preserve the maintenance of A beta homeostasis and have a notable AD therapy, achieving a method to clear up A beta plaques becomes an emerging task. Herein, we describe a self-destructive nanosweeper based on multifunctional peptide-polymers that is capable of capturing and clearing A beta for the effective treatment of AD. The nanosweeper recognize and bind A beta via co-assembly through hydrogen bonding interactions. The A beta-loaded nanosweeper enters cells and upregulates autophagy thus promoting the degradation of A beta. As a result, the nanosweeper decreases the cytotoxicity of A beta and rescues memory deficits of AD transgenic mice. We believe that this resourceful and synergistic approach has valuable potential as an AD treatment strategy.