Considering the Use of Lasers to Break Down Harmful Protein Aggregates

It is possible to tailor the frequency of laser light to selectively disrupt the bonds or structure of particular arrangements of molecules - such as, say, the harmful protein aggregates found in neurodegenerative and other age-related conditions. Researchers here showcase early work into the disruption of amyloids, a class of altered of proteins that feature prominently in numerous conditions. The challenge in this sort of approach is usually not that of achieving the desired disruption, but rather doing so without the delivery of so much energy, released as heat, that the process kills surrounding cells and tissues. Past early stage efforts have floundered on that problem. A notable characteristic of several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, is the formation of harmful plaques that contain aggregates - also known as fibrils - of amyloid proteins. Unfortunately, even after decades of research, getting rid of these plaques has remained a herculean challenge. Thus, the treatment options available to patients with these disorders are limited and not very effective. In recent years, instead of going down the chemical route using drugs, some scientists have turned to alternative approaches, such as ultrasound, to destroy amyloid fibrils and halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Now, a research team has used novel methods to show how infrared-laser irradiation can destroy amyloid fibrils. While laser experiments coupled with va...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs