Abstract

(E)-6-Methyl-4'-amino-2-styrylquinoline (3) is a small molecule with the proper features to potentially diagnose, deliver therapy and monitor response to therapy in protein misfolding diseases. These features include compound fluorescent emission in the NIR region and its ability to interact with both A beta and prion fibrils, staining them with high selectivity. Styrylquinoline 3 also inhibits A beta self-aggregation in vitro and prion replication in the submicromolar range in a cellular context. Furthermore, it is not toxic and is able to cross the blood brain barrier in vitro (PAMPA test).