A system and method for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of protein misfolding diseases includes altering the binding or interaction(s) between any of the following (a) a peptide of interest in protein-misfolding disease, such as PrP-C or PrP-Sc, and (b) a mineral (c) copper, and/or d) a lipid particle, wherein the mineral may be montmorillonite or another mineral, and the lipid particle may be a vesicle or micelle, or may form or promote the formation of non-lamellar curved-lipid shapes.