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Synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease and multiple system atrophy (MSA), are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by aggregation of α-synuclein (ASN). Nanomaterials capable of modulating protein misfolding represent a potential intervention strategy. Here, we synthesized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and systematically evaluated their physicochemical properties and biological activity against ASN aggregation. The GQDs were characterized using spectroscopic, electron microscopy, and colloidal techniques to determine surface chemistry, charge, optical properties, and crystalline structure. Biological evaluation demonstrated cytocompatibility in human dermal fibroblasts (IC50 = 90 µg mL−1 at 24 h) with assessments of DNA damage and inflammatory responses. Functionally, GQDs destabilized preformed ASN fibrils in a cell-free assay, as evidenced by reduced Thioflavin-T fluorescence. In primary murine dopaminergic neurons, GQDs decrease pS129-ASN inclusion formation without compromising neuronal viability. Most importantly, intranasal administration of GQDs in an MSA mouse model reduced ASN immunoreactivity in the brain. Collectively, our data indicate that the synthetized GQDs are bioactive and can modulate ASN aggregation across cell-free, neuronal, and in vivo models. Importantly, physicochemical properties govern nano – bio interactions, providing a rationale for further refinement of GQDs as a biomaterial platform for synucleinopathy-related applications.

Rights:

• Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 International
  

Keyword: Graphene quantum dots, bioactive nanomaterials, Nano–bio interactions, amyloid inhibition, nanotoxicology, cytocompatibility, nano–bio interface

Date published: 2026-12-31

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Journal:

• Science and Technology of Advanced Materials (ISSN: 14686996) vol. 27 issue. 1 2662693

Funding:

Manuscript type: Author's version (Accepted manuscript)

MDR DOI: https://doi.org/10.48505/nims.6305

First published URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/14686996.2026.2662693

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Updated at: 2026-05-21 11:41:20 +0900

Published on MDR: 2026-05-21 14:27:40 +0900