Magnetically triggered transgene expression system using magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

Remote control of transgene expression by physical stimuli may provide a new approach for the controlled expression of therapeutic genes in cancer therapy and regenerative medicine. In this article, new approaches which use local heating of magnetic nanoparticles to transform magnetic signals into cell stimuli for gene expression are reviewed and discussed. By applying a synthetic biological approach, heat-inducible transgene expression systems are applied to target cells. The functionalized magnetite nanoparticles target cells to magnetically label them. Transgenic cells labeled with magnetite nanoparticles can express the transgene upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field. This approach may be applicable to the development of new gene therapies in cancer therapy and regenerative medicine based on the remote manipulation of cell function via transgene expression in a spatiotemporal manner.