Abstract: A method of synthesizing silymarin-loaded collagen collagen nanoparticles can include dissolving silymarin in an alcohol to provide a solution, mixing the solution with acetic acid to provide an acetic acid mixture, and adding the glutaraldehyde to the mixture to provide silymarin nanoparticles. The silymarin nanoparticles can be dissolved in a further alcohol and mixed for a period of time to provide a silymarin nanoparticle mixture. Then, the silymarin nanoparticles can be mixed with collagen nanoparticles to provide a silymarin/collagen mixture. Glutaraldehyde can be added to the collagen mixture to provide the nanocomposite formulation.

Abstract: A method of treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a subject can include administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a nanocomposite formulation including nanosilymarin (silymarin nanoparticles) encapsulated within a collagen-based-polymeric nanoparticulate drug delivery system. The nanocomposite formulation can effectively treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD) at dose ranging from about 100 mg/kg/day to about 300 mg/kg/day.