Electromagnetized gold nanoparticles improve neurogenesis and cognition in the aged brain

Yujung Chang; Byounggook Cho; Euiyeon Lee; Junyeop Kim; Junsang Yoo; Jung-Suk Sung; Youngeun Kwon; Jongpil Kim

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121157

Electromagnetized gold nanoparticles improve neurogenesis and cognition in the aged brain

Biomaterials. 2021 Nov:278:121157. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121157. Epub 2021 Sep 28.

Authors

Yujung Chang¹, Byounggook Cho¹, Euiyeon Lee², Junyeop Kim¹, Junsang Yoo³, Jung-Suk Sung⁴, Youngeun Kwon⁵, Jongpil Kim⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea.
³ Stand up Science, Sinsadong 559-8, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06037, South Korea.
⁴ Department of Life Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, 10326, South Korea.
⁵ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea. Electronic address: ykwon@dongguk.edu.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea. Electronic address: jk2316@gmail.com.

PMID: 34601195
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121157

Abstract

Adult neurogenesis is the lifelong process by which new neurons are generated in the dentate gyrus. However, adult neurogenesis capacity decreases with age, and this decrease is closely linked to cognitive and memory decline. Our study demonstrated that electromagnetized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) promote adult hippocampal neurogenesis, thereby improving cognitive function and memory consolidation in aged mice. According to single-cell RNA sequencing data, the numbers of neural stem cells (NSCs) and neural progenitors were significantly increased by electromagnetized AuNPs. Additionally, electromagnetic stimulation resulted in specific activation of the histone acetyltransferase Kat2a, which led to histone H3K9 acetylation in adult NSCs. Moreover, in vivo electromagnetized AuNP stimulation efficiently increased hippocampal neurogenesis in aged and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria mouse brains, thereby alleviating the symptoms of aging. Therefore, our study provides a proof-of-concept for the in vivo stimulation of hippocampal neurogenesis using electromagnetized AuNPs as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of age-related brain diseases.

Keywords: Aging; Electromagnetized field; Gold nanoparticles; Neural stem cells; Neurogenesis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain
Cognition
Gold*
Metal Nanoparticles*
Mice
Neurogenesis

Substances

Gold