Dissolution of Lysozyme Amyloid Fibrils Using Magnetic Nanoparticles in an Alternating Magnetic Field: Design of an Effective Treatment for Cutaneous Amyloidosis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to apply functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for the treatment of amyloidosis, a disease characterized by the accumulation of aberrant protein forms with an insoluble amyloid structure. The dissolution and clearance of these extremely stable fibrils from lesions is very complicated. For this purpose, we examined the possibility of using magnetic nanoparticles that generate heat in an external alternating magnetic field with a frequency of 3.5 MHz. As a convenient model system, we used lysozyme fibrils. For the quantification of fibrillar status, we used Thioflavin T and Congo red, specific dyes which change their spectroscopic properties upon binding with the cross-beta structure of fibrils. We found that by using fluorescence, and polarization microscopy, as well as absorption spectrophotometry, the amyloid-like fibrils can be almost completely dissolved. The obtained results suggest that the application of magnetic nanoparticles could be a possible therapeutic intervention in cutaneous amyloidosis.