Infrared Nanospectroscopy and Terahertz Irradiation of Pathological Protein Aggregates

α-Synuclein (αS) is of wide interest because its aggregation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. Here, we are using the atomic force microscopy-assisted infrared nanospectroscopy to investigate its aggregation into nanoscale fibrils and describe the secondary structure change of the protein during aggregation. Perspective THz irradiation experiments have been designed and are being set up, with the aim of modifying the secondary structure of proteins and/or aggregates through prolonged THz irradiation with CW sources.