Remote Stimuli-Responsive Nanomaterials for Regenerative and Cancer Therapy

Cells constantly interact with native nanostructured extracellular matrix at the molecular level. Nanomaterials responsive to tissue-penetrative remote stimuli can be designed to present bioactive ligands or deliver functional molecules as a nanomedicine to regulate or elucidate dynamic nanoscale cell-material interactions. In this talk, I will demonstrate the design of dynamic nanomaterials that can be remotely and spatiotemporally controlled via various remote stimuli, such as magnetic field, light, self-assembling molecules, or their combinations.<br/><br/>In particular, I will show that magnetic field can control the motion of magnetic nanomaterials, such as reversibly controlling RGD ligand nano-coupling, nano-blocking, nano-stretching, and nano-interconnectivity with graph theory-based analysis, which can regulate the focal adhesion-mediated mechanotransduction and resultant differentiation of stem cells. Near-infrared light can activate photonic nanomaterials to trigger photoisomerization, thereby mediating the swelling of liganded supramolecular self-assembly, which can be reversibly deswelled by visible light. Such photonic control enables <i>in vivo</i> stability imaging and spatiotemporally controlled molecular delivery to regulate the adhesion-dependent pro-inflammatory vs. pro-regenerative polarization of macrophages. Furthermore, molecules and ions can reversibly induce <i>in situ</i> self-assembly of biofunctional nanomaterials.<br/><br/>I will also introduce a couple of representative examples of recent cancer therapies and diagnostic imaging controllable by remote stimuli, such as magnetic field, light, and ultrasound, which utilize mechanical force, 1-D nanomaterials, in situ self-assembly, ferroptosis, and others. These strategies can present benefits for safe personalized precision therapies while minimizing drug resistance and side effects.