title: A new strategy to reduce amyloid deposition using peptide-imprinted membranes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The accumulation of amyloid beta protein in the brain causes the cognitive impairment observed in neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that a rapid removal of amyloid beta protein peptides from the blood by an extracorporeal purification system could represent an alternative solution for the treatment of patients suffering from this neurodegenerative disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this regard, we investigated the specific recognition properties of a molecularly imprinted membrane based on poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) toward the amyloid beta protein fragment 25-35 (AbP), the more neurotoxic domain of amyloid beta protein. A chemical modification of the copolymer backbone using succinic anhydride was also performed to favor the formation of carboxylic groups and thus improve imprinting performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physico-chemical, morphological, mechanical and functional characterisations gave interesting results confirming the ability of imprinted membranes to in vitro rebind AbP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work represents a proof of concept regarding the development of a biocompatible polymer membrane capable of selectively removing amyloid beta peptide from the blood and consequently from the cerebrospinal fluid.
authors.affiliation: CNR Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, uos Pisa, Pisa - Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cristallini
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa - Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spezia
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa - Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosellini
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa - Italy.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cascone
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa - Italy.
authors.forename: Niccoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barbani
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D054802:Molecular Imprinting; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011145:Polyvinyls; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); C020320:ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer