Neuroprotective effects of maize tetrapeptide-anchored gold nanoparticles in Alzheimer's disease.

[Display omitted] • A novel nanopeptide is self-assembled from maize tetrapeptide anchored AuNPs. • Nanopeptide has a neuroprotective effect on l -glutamate-induced extracellular model. • Nanopeptides have therapeutic effects on murine Alzheimer's disease models. • Nanopeptides may reduce model injury through the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway. Nanopeptide assembled from peptide-anchored nanoparticles possess an enormous research potential in the field of cellular medicine and disease treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the neuroprotective effects of maize tetrapeptide anchored gold nanoparticles against l -glutamic acid-induced PC12 cell apoptosis and a murine Alzheimer's disease model induced by aluminum chloride and d -galactose. The results revealed that the nanopeptide antioxidant inhibited intracellular ROS accumulation and promoted cell differentiation than that of maize bioactive tetrapeptide. Compared with untreated Alzheimer's disease model mice, nanopeptide administration shortened the escape latency time in a water maze test and improved the movements in the autonomic activity test. After 16 days of nanopeptide administration, the central cholinergic system function of acetylcholine and cholineacetyltransferase were enhanced, and the level of acetylcholinesterase was reduced. It also increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in sera and hypothalami. Moreover, nanopeptide treatment upregulated cerebral nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme-oxygenase-1 and downregulated kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 relative to untreated Alzheimer's disease model mice. Thus, the novel nanopeptide is expected to be used as the neuroprotective agent to prevent Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]