Polyol-Functionalized Manganese-Based Nanoparticles: From Insulin Amyloid Inhibition to Nanozyme-Mediated Antioxidant Activity
- 1Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
Abstract
Insulin amyloidosis poses challenges in diabetes therapy and biopharmaceuticals handling. Here, functionalized manganese-based nanoparticles (MnCO3@TEG, MnCO3@OAm, MnOHCO3@TEG, MnO2/Mn2O3@TEG, and Mn3O4@PG) were synthesized via solvothermal routes and evaluated in vitro using a fresh insulin aspart formulation (NovoRapid) and a separately aged insulin glargine formulation (Lantus). Structural and colloidal characterization (ATR-FTIR, XRD, TGA, DLS, zeta potential) confirmed phase purity and distinct surface profiles. In the fresh insulin aspart system, all nanoparticles extended the nucleation lag phase, with MnCO3@TEG delaying fibrillogenesis from 21.16 h to 105.41 h. In the aged insulin glargine system containing pre-existing ThT-positive aggregates, small, negatively charged nanoparticles (MnOHCO3@TEG, Mn3O4@PG) re-established a distinct lag phase and suppressed further aggregation. In the ThT decay assays, highly dispersed Mn3O4@PG produced the largest decrease in amyloid-associated fluorescence, to ~40% of the initial signal, whereas large clusters (MnO2/Mn2O3@TEG, 624 nm) produced a smaller decrease; limited access arising from steric effects is one possible explanation. Additionally, structural hydroxyl groups and high colloidal stability enabled MnOHCO3@TEG (−38.7 mV) to exhibit superior catalase-like H2O2 scavenging (42.27% inhibition at 250 μg/mL). Overall, fine-tuning nanoparticle size, surface charge, and core composition may offer a promising dual-action strategy for targeting insulin amyloidosis and associated oxidative stress across different stages of fibril formation, while further structural characterization and biological safety studies are needed to establish its therapeutic relevance.
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BibTeX
@article{giannousi2026polyolfunctionalized,
title = {{Polyol-Functionalized Manganese-Based Nanoparticles: From Insulin Amyloid Inhibition to Nanozyme-Mediated Antioxidant Activity}},
author = {Kleoniki Giannousi and Zoi Kourpouanidou and Elpida Pantelidou and Catherine Dendrinou-Samara},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27188321},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/18/8321},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Polyol-Functionalized Manganese-Based Nanoparticles: From Insulin Amyloid Inhibition to Nanozyme-Mediated Antioxidant Activity
AU - Kleoniki Giannousi
AU - Zoi Kourpouanidou
AU - Elpida Pantelidou
AU - Catherine Dendrinou-Samara
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/18
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27188321
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/18/8321
AB - Insulin amyloidosis poses challenges in diabetes therapy and biopharmaceuticals handling. Here, functionalized manganese-based nanoparticles (MnCO3@TEG, MnCO3@OAm, MnOHCO3@TEG, MnO2/Mn2O3@TEG, and Mn3O4@PG) were synthesized via solvothermal routes and evaluated in vitro using a fresh insulin aspart formulation (NovoRapid) and a separately aged insulin glargine formulation (Lantus). Structural and colloidal characterization (ATR-FTIR, XRD, TGA, DLS, zeta potential) confirmed phase purity and distinct surface profiles. In the fresh insulin aspart system, all nanoparticles extended the nucleation lag phase, with MnCO3@TEG delaying fibrillogenesis from 21.16 h to 105.41 h. In the aged insulin glargine system containing pre-existing ThT-positive aggregates, small, negatively charged nanoparticles (MnOHCO3@TEG, Mn3O4@PG) re-established a distinct lag phase and suppressed further aggregation. In the ThT decay assays, highly dispersed Mn3O4@PG produced the largest decrease in amyloid-associated fluorescence, to ~40% of the initial signal, whereas large clusters (MnO2/Mn2O3@TEG, 624 nm) produced a smaller decrease; limited access arising from steric effects is one possible explanation. Additionally, structural hydroxyl groups and high colloidal stability enabled MnOHCO3@TEG (−38.7 mV) to exhibit superior catalase-like H2O2 scavenging (42.27% inhibition at 250 μg/mL). Overall, fine-tuning nanoparticle size, surface charge, and core composition may offer a promising dual-action strategy for targeting insulin amyloidosis and associated oxidative stress across different stages of fibril formation, while further structural characterization and biological safety studies are needed to establish its therapeutic relevance.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -