Lipoic Acid-Coated Gold Nanoparticles Prevent the Amyloid Aggregation of SOD1 Mutants in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) cause protein misfolding, amyloid accumulation, and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which contribute to the disease’s progression. There is currently no cure, and our limited understanding of ALS makes it difficult to develop effective treatments. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) can cross the blood–brain barrier and are becoming promising tools for drug delivery. Lipoic acid (LA) fights oxidative stress but is poorly absorbed and unstable. In this study, we developed LA-conjugated GNPs (GNPs–LA), which inhibited SOD1 aggregation, reduced ROS production, and minimized cellular damage. The GNPs–LA system showed excellent biocompatibility, offering therapeutic potential for ALS treatment.