Three University of Waterloo students are conducting research in Dr. Zoya Leonenko's lab, searching for answers to Alzheimer's disease at the nanoscale.
Charlotte Baur (fourth year Biological and Medical Physics), Hugh Hossfeld (third year Honours Science), and Isabella Barichello (third year Biomedical Engineering) are Research Assistants investigating how epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a plant antioxidant found in green tea, might help protect against cell damage that leads to this neurodegenerative disease.
"We're looking at the lipid membrane of a cell," Baur says. "We model it after a neuron and study its electrophysiology, which means we look at how the membrane conducts ion currents and how certain molecules can effect that ability."
Their work takes place in Leonenko's lab in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, where they study the role of neuronal membrane in Alzheimer's disease and how the membrane can be protected. They test model versions of neuronal cell membranes and examine how they respond to amyloid beta, a small protein cluster that clumps together in the brain and forms large plaques. It is a major contributor to Alzheimer's disease.
The research builds on previous studies where compounds such as melatonin and trehalose have been examined for their potential protective effects, creating a foundation for the research team's focus on EGCG.
Using electrophysiology techniques, Baur and Hossfeld examine how amyloid beta damages the neuronal membrane, and whether EGCG offers protection from amyloid beta oligomers forming pore-like openings that allow ions to pass through.
"What we hope to see is a decrease in ions passing through into the membrane," Hossfeld says. "If fewer ions are passing through, that suggests that EGCG is offering a barrier of protection. A preventative effect would be where those events disappear completely."
When conducting experiments, Baur and Hossfeld observed reduced membrane permeability, suggesting green tea extract could help shield the membrane from damage.
While Baur and Hossfeld focus on what happens when amyloid beta attacks the inside of the membrane, Barichello approaches the problem from a different angle using surface plasmon resonance (SPR).
"Using SPR, I study how amyloid beta attaches to the membrane's surface, and whether treatment with EGCG can reduce or prevent the amyloid build-up on the membrane," Barichello says.
In the lab, she designed experimental protocols, conducted control studies, and analyzed molecular binding patterns to investigate EGCG's potential protective effects.
As a team, the three students are providing a clearer picture on whether reducing amyloid-induced membrane damage could slow or prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease. While more research remains, their work in Leonenko's lab is contributing valuable insights into one of the most complex neurological disorders that could one day contribute to future treatments that protect brain health.
