A Flower-like Brain Targeted Selenium Nanocluster Lowers the Chlorogenic Acid Dose for Ameliorating Cognitive Impairment in APP/PS1 Mice

Aβ aggregation-related neuroinflammation and imbalance of brain glucose homeostasis play important roles in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is one of the most common dietary polyphenols with neuroprotective effects. However, due to the low bioavailability of CGA, its application dose is usually high in vivo. In our previous study, the spherical selenium nanoparticles act as drug carriers to improve the bioactivity of resveratrol. Here, the brain-targeting peptide (TGN peptide) and CGA were used to prepare a new flowerlike selenium nanocluster (TGN-CGA@SeNCs) for enhancing the bioavailability of CGA. After decoration on selenium nanoclusters, the solubility and stability of CGA was obviously increased. Oral administration of a low dose of CGA (80 mg/kg/body weight) only slightly inhibited Aβ aggregate-related neuroinflammation and glucose homeostasis disorder in the brain. Moreover, CGA showed less effect on increasing the diversity and richness of gut microbiota. At the same concentration, the CGA-modified selenium nanocluster (CGA@SeNCs) and TGN-CGA@SeNCs showed better function in ameliorating the gut microbiota disorder. Especially, TGN-CGA@SeNCs significantly increased the relative abundance of Turicibacter, Colidextribacter, Ruminococcus, Alloprevotella, and Alistipes against oxidative stress, inflammation, and glucose homeostasis imbalance. Notably, only TGN-CGA@SeNCs can transport through the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and TGN-CGA@SeNCs showed better effects than CGA@SeNCs in regulating Aβ aggregation and improving brain glucose homeostasis. These results broadened the application of TGN-CGA@SeNCs, effectively improving the bioactivity of CGA, which also lowers the CGA dose for preventing AD progression.