Nanoparticle-cell link enables EM wireless programming of transgene expression

Summary

The nanoparticles are composed of multiferric cores (Cobalt ferrite and Bismuth ferrite which responsive to magnetic field) and chitosan outer layers (which is rich in positive amino group for translocate nanoparticles to cytoplasm and shields the bioenvironment from the nanoaprticles). Credit: Lin et al. Recent technological advances are fueling the development of cutting-edge technologies that can monitor and control physiological processes with high precision. These include devices that could control the expression of genes within living organisms, without requiring invasive surgeries or procedures. Researchers at ETH Zurich recently introduced a new method that enables the electromagnetic programming of the wireless expression regulation (EMPOWER) of transgenes in mammals, via the interfacing of nanoparticles and cells. Their proposed approach, outlined in a paper published in Nature Nanotechnology, could help to treat chronic conditions, including diabetes, while also opening new possibilities for research in synthetic biology and regenerative medicine. "Our recent study is all about tackling the ongoing challenge in biomedicine of precisely and non-invasively controlling therapeutic gene expression within living organisms," Martin Fussenegger, senior author of the paper, told Phys.org. "I understand that conventional methods can be a bit tricky. Either they require invasive procedures, or they might not be as precise or robust as we'd like. This inspired us to use magnetic fields for wireless control, taking advantage of their ability to penetrate biological tissues safely and effectively without direct contact or invasive devices." The main objective of the recent study by Fussenegger and their colleagues was to devise a safe and robust approach to reliably control the amount of a therapeutic protein produced by mammals from a distance. The method they introduced in their paper relies on nanoparticles made of multiferroic materials, which were coated with a b...