Magnetic Hydrogels for Bioelectronic Medicine

Cell signaling can be mediated by heat stimulation in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that dissipate heat efficiently when exposed to alternating magnetic fields (AMFs). Our lab develops novel approaches for remote AMF-based activation of deep organs in the body via implantable, biocompatible magnetic hydrogels designed with controlled magnetic and mechanical properties and tailored to different organ tissues. The AMF-driven activation targets heat-sensitive ion channels, such as the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), with a temperature threshold above 42 Celsius.<br/>The magnetic hydrogels accommodate both MNPs and cells and thus serve as a three-dimensional culture model and as bioelectronic implants. We characterize and compare synthetic and biological polymers that can support magnetic nanocomposites in terms of mechanical, magnetic, and biocompatibility properties. Moreover, we develop comprehensive heat transfer models to predict the heat distribution inside and from the magnetic implants.<br/>The magnetic hydrogels achieve wireless, on-demand control of cell signaling. This control is crucial for cell excitability, making our work highly relevant to the fields of neuroscience, tissue engineering, and drug delivery.