TiO2 nanoparticles promote β-amyloid fibrillation in vitro

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world. The pathogenesis of AD is associated with beta-amyloid (A beta) fibrillation. Nanoparticles have large surface area and can access the brain. But no investigation has been made to study the relationship between nanoparticles and AD. In our study, we observed A beta fibril formation in the presence of six kinds of nanoparticles and found that TiO2 nanoparticles can promote A beta fibrillation by shortening nucleation process, which is the key rate-determining step of fibrillation. Hereby the interaction between A beta and nanoparticles may contribute to AD etiology. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.