Our Research

We are exploring the mechanism and potential of a novel, bifunctional class of compounds designed to combat Alzheimer’s disease. The compounds are termed spin-labeled fluorenes (SLFs), as they contain a fluorene moiety that has been shown to dissociate Aβ oligomers and effect a corresponding inhibition of Aβ toxicity, and a nitroxyl spin label moiety that provides an effective ROS scavenging capability. In addition, the spin label moiety acts as a molecular reporter that can be observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to map its binding to and influences on the Ab peptide. We have identified indices of structure and dynamics in order to obtain a thermodynamic description of the SLF mechanism of action. We have also measured the contribution of the second SLF functionality, its ability to reduce oxidative stress via the ROS scavenging capacity of the nitroxide moiety.

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