Nanomaterial-based approaches to neurotoxin neutralization in neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are intricately linked to the accumulation of various neurotoxins, mainly including toxic proteins, inflammatory mediators, excess metal ions, and viral pathogens. Biological neutralization strategies that use agents to competitively bind harmful substances and thus inhibit their pathogenic activity hold promise for direct removal of neurotoxins but face many limitations and challenges in NDs. Nanomaterials provide a potential solution for neurotoxin neutralization in NDs due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties. This review summarizes recent advancements in nanomaterial-based approaches to neurotoxin neutralization in NDs, highlighting the diverse design principles and mechanisms of action. We also discuss the critical role of targeted delivery to optimize neutralization efficiency and the advantages of combining different neutralization mechanisms or introducing other therapeutic components to exert the synergistic effects. Furthermore, we reveal current limitations and future research directions aimed at paving the way for nanomedicine development based on neurotoxin neutralization for the treatment of NDs.