Abstract
Recent research indicates that nanoparticles can serve as tools for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. This study investigates the inhibitory effects of silver and copper oxide nanoparticles, synthesized using Juglans regia green husk aqueous extract, on human insulin fibrillation. Initially, the formation of amyloid fibrils in recombinant human insulin protein was examined under various buffers and by altering physicochemical conditions, such as pH and temperature, identifying optimal conditions for fibril formation. The nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized for size using dynamic light scattering (DLS), morphology via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and surface charge through zeta potential analysis. Utilizing biochemical and biophysical techniques, including turbidimetry, DLS, SEM, and fluorescence spectroscopy, we demonstrate that both nanoparticle types effectively inhibit insulin fibrillation, with copper nanoparticles exhibiting superior efficacy. Bioinformatics analyses, combined with zeta potential measurements, suggest that the inhibitory effects of the nanoparticles arise from interactions with charged regions of the insulin molecule. These findings highlight the critical role of nanoparticle characteristics in modulating protein aggregation and present promising therapeutic potential for addressing amyloid-related diseases. Future research should aim to optimize nanoparticle design and evaluate their pharmacokinetics to improve their clinical applicability.