Nanomaterial Intervention in Protein Misfolding and Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease are marked by protein misfolding and persistent neuroinflammation leading to synaptic damage. Nanomaterial-based interventions have emerged as a promising approach to address these multifaceted pathologies by simultaneously inhibiting toxic protein aggregation and modulating glial overactivation. Negative-surface gold nanoparticles, carbon dots, and other engineered constructs exhibit strong adsorption capabilities that limit amyloid-β or tau fibrillization, while photothermal strategies using graphene or gold nanorods destabilize established aggregates. Meanwhile, functionalized nanocarriers deliver targeted anti-inflammatory agents across the blood–brain barrier through receptor-mediated transport or biomimetic cell membrane coatings, attenuating proinflammatory cytokines and promoting autophagic clearance. In vitro and in vivo models demonstrate synergistic outcomes, with reduced plaque burden, improved neuronal survival, and enhanced cognitive measures. Despite challenges in large-scale synthesis and long-term safety, evolving nanoplatforms highlight an integrative, customizable framework for effectively tackling the harmful feedback loop of protein misfolding, neuroinflammation, and disease progression.