A dual-ligand fusion peptide improves the brain-neuron targeting of nanocarriers in Alzheimer's disease mice

The presence of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and specificity of neuron targeting remain two challenges in the effective delivery of nanotherapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimers disease (AD). Traditional strategy of nanocarriers for AD treatment involves co-decoration of both BBB-penetrating ligand and neuron-targeting ligand on the surface of the nanoparticles for “dual-stage” targeted delivery. Instead, we design and optimize a fusion peptide TPL comprising a BBB-penetrating peptide TGN and a neuron binding peptide Tet1 through a four-glycine linker. Compared to the mono-ligand Tet1 or CGN which is the retro-inverso isomer of TGN with higher brain targeting than TGN, the dual-ligand fusion peptide TPL has preferable blood stability and enhanced structural flexibility, resulting in higher binding affinity to either GT1b ganglioside receptor or brain capillary endothelial bEnd.3 cells. The TPL-modified nanoparticles (TPL-NP) increased the BBB-penetration and neuron-targeting efficacy than the nanoparticles co-decorated with the two mono-ligands. Encapsulation of a neuroprotective peptide NAP, TPL-NP significantly enhance reactive oxygen species scavenging ability and effectively protect microtubule from Aβ25‐35-induced neurotoxicity. Meanwhile, TPL-NP inhibit okadaic acid-induced tau aggregation and neuronal apoptosis. Administration of TPL-NP in AD mice also significantly improves the cognitive performance, down-regulates the tau phosphorylation level, promotes axonal transport and attenuates microgliosis. Taken together, this work demonstrates that the rationally designed dual-ligand fusion peptides can greatly improve the delivery of drugs to the AD lesions, thereby markedly enhancing the efficacy of AD treatment.