This project focuses on drug discovery in the context of protein aggregation mechanisms linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In collaborating with Prof. Jan Skov Pedersen from Aarhus University (AU), the Klementieva group at Lund University plan to examine how dendrimers, nonlinear polymers, bind amyloid proteins. The ultimate goal is to find a formulation of dendrimers that will protect neurons against amyloid toxicity.

The methodology involves infrared spectroscopy (Klementieva group, Medical Microspectrocopy Lab, MMS), circular dichroism (synchrotron ISA, Aarhus, Denmark), small-angle X-ray scattering (MAXIV, Co-SAXS, and Jan Skov Pedersen Lab), and transmission electron microscopy (LBIC) to analyze the structures of dendrimers in the presence of amyloids.

Anticipated outcomes include the development of molecular and polymer-based models of dendrimers, which will guide efforts to enhance the specificity of dendrimers for targeting amyloids. That will help to advance the understanding of the interaction between dendrimers and amyloids, ultimately contributing to the manipulation of dendrimers’ neuroprotective properties.

For further information about this HALRIC pilot project, please contact:

Oxana Klementieva,
Lund University
oxana.klementieva@med.lu.se