Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major cause of
dementia characterized by the overexpression of transmembrane
amyloid precursor
protein and its neurotoxic byproduct
amyloid beta (Aβ). A small
peptide of considerable hydrophobicity, Aβ is aggregation prone catalyzed by the presence of cell membranes, among other environmental factors. Accordingly, current AD mitigation strategies often aim at breaking down the Aβ-membrane communication, yet no data is available concerning the cohesive interplay of the three key entities of the cell membrane, Aβ, and its inhibitor. Using a lipophilic
Laurdan dye and confocal fluorescence microscopy, we observed cell membrane perturbation and actin reorganization induced by Aβ oligomers but not by Aβ monomers or
amyloid fibrils. We further revealed recovery of membrane fluidity by ultrasmall MoS2
quantum dots, also shown in this study as a potent inhibitor of Aβ
amyloid aggregation. Using discrete molecular dynamics simulations, we uncovered the binding of MoS2 and Aβ monomers as mediated by hydrophilic interactions between the
quantum dots and the
peptide N-terminus. In contrast, Aβ oligomers and fibrils were surface-coated by the ultrasmall
quantum dots in distinct testudo-like, reverse
protein-corona formations to prevent their further association with the cell membrane and adverse effects downstream. This study offers a crucial new insight and a viable strategy for regulating the
amyloid aggregation and membrane-axis of AD pathology with multifunctional nanomedicine.