DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE NANOFOOD MATERIALS AS NUTRIENT DELIVERY SYSTEM (NDS) FOR IMPROVING COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT (AND) USING AFFINITY BEAD TECHNOLOGY (ABT)

Aims: Cognitive function impairment, which increased with the aging population, underscored the need for enhanced acetylcholine synthesis and synaptic function in the hippocampus for effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, we explored the development of alternative nanofood materials and their therapeutic potential as Nutrient Delivery System (NDS) for improving cognitive impairment using edible bird's nest (EBN)-derived sialic acid, KJM-SA1, using Affinity Beads Technology (ABT). Study design: Commercialization of brain function-improving health functional food from sialic acid based on affinity bead technology (Stepping Stone Startup Project) From May 2021 to August 31, 2024, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of South Korea supported the design and research of the experiment (Commercialization of brain function-improving health functional food from sialic acid based on affinity bead technology, Stepping Stone Startup Project). Place and Duration of Study: Samples were provided by KJMBio Co., Ltd. and KJMAloe Co., Ltd. from May 2021 to August 31, 2024, and basic and animal experiments were conducted at the Department of Food and Nutrition, Nanofood Research Institute, Seoul National University, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, UNIST. Methodology: We investigated the effects of KJM-SA1 on cell viability in SH-SY5Y cells, its antioxidant activity, and its impact on cognitive functions in scopolamine-induced mice through Morris Water Maze and Passive Avoidance tests. Results: Our results demonstrated that KJM-SA1 not only enhanced SH-SY5Y cell viability and exhibited significant antioxidant properties but also improved cognitive functions in scopolamine-induced mice. This improvement was associated with changes in the expression of genes crucial for ace-tylcholine production and synaptic operation in the hippocampus, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Conclusion: These results suggest that KJM-SA1 may be a promising NDS for cognitive impairment and an alternative food and therapeutic agent for the development of nanofood materials, which requires further studies.