Advances in graphene-based nanoplatforms and their application in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive, complex, and chronic neurodegenerative disorder that remains challenging to cure and diagnose in the early stage. The neuropathological hallmark of PD are Lewy bodies, which are intracellular protein aggregates composed primarily of α-synuclein (α-syn). The unmet therapeutic and diagnostic needs are projected to be managed by exploring alternative strategies. In this direction, research on using tailored graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) is gaining attention due to their capability to affect pathogenic forms of α-syn. In this review, we discuss computational and experimental approaches and look at the benefits of GBNs to target mechanisms contributed to PD neurodegeneration, including α-syn aggregation, autophagy, inflammation, and oxidative stress, for the development of an entirely new class of antiparkinsonian therapy. We overview advanced GBN-based nanomedicines, regenerative medicine, and biosensors supporting the application of GBNs in PD management. Moreover, this review highlights the biocompatibility and safety aspects of emergent GBNs. Although GBNs represent a new and promising approach to PD treatment, as of now, it is limited to computational and early-stage experimental studies, as carefully discussed in this article.