Benzothiazole-endoperoxide conjugates protect PC12 cells against β-amyloid-induced cell death via singlet oxygen mediated oxidative detoxification of fibrils

Metastable endoperoxides with beta-amyloid fibrils targeting benzothiazole moieties were designed and synthesized. Singlet oxygen released from these endoperoxides by thermal cycloreversion reaction was shown to cause significant structural changes on the amyloid assemblies. Most importantly, the cytotoxicity of the beta-amyloid fibrils on the PC12 cells were significantly reduced in the presence of endoperoxides. This observation, coupled with the fact that neither external oxygen, nor light is needed for this transformation, is very promising.