Date of Graduation
Fall 2025
Degree
Master of Science in Chemistry
Department
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Committee Chair
Tuhina Banerjee
Abstract
Tau protein aggregation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies, where the formation of toxic oligomeric intermediates leads to neuronal dysfunction and cell death. In this study, the interaction between Tau protein and PEGylated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-PEG) was investigated to explore their potential role in modulating the fibrillation. The gold nanoparticles were made via a two-step process incorporating thiol-terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG-SH) and characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The effect of AuNP-PEG on the kinetics of Tau aggregation was examined using thioflavin T(ThT), Congo red, and Nile red assays, which investigate β-sheet formation, amyloid binding, and hydrophobicity measurement, respectively. The outcome of the above assays clearly demonstrated that the AuNP-PEG inhibited Tau fibril formation, being able to increase the lag-time period length and decreasing the change into mature fibrils, which inhibited the generation of the more toxic oligomeric intermediate stage. LC-MS analysis confirms that PEGylation alters the proteomic landscape, influencing protein abundance, binding behavior and the biological response. Overall, these findings demonstrate that AuNPs-PEG can act as effective inhibitors of Tau aggregation through modulation of early nucleation events. This study provides mechanistic insight into the design of PEG-based nanoparticle systems as potential nanotherapeutic platforms for mitigating Tau-mediated neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.
Keywords
Tau protein, PEGylated gold nanoparticles, Alzheimer’s disease, protein aggregation, surface plasmon resonance, nanotherapeutics, neurodegeneration
Subject Categories
Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology | Chemicals and Drugs | Chemistry | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Diseases | Medical Sciences | Nanotechnology | Neurology | Neuroscience and Neurobiology | Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Copyright
© Rahab Wanjiru Kanogo
Recommended Citation
Kanogo, Rahab Wanjiru, "Interaction of Tau With Pegylated Gold Nanoparticles" (2025). Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 4132.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/4132
Open Access
Included in
Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons, Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons, Chemicals and Drugs Commons, Chemistry Commons, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Commons, Diseases Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Nanotechnology Commons, Neurology Commons, Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons
