Enhancement of magnetic nanoparticle-mediated gene transfer to astrocytes by 'magnetofection': effects of static and oscillating fields.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to transfect astrocytes derived for transplantation and determine if transfection efficacy can be enhanced by static and oscillating magnetic fields.


METHODS
Astrocytes were transfected using MNPs functionalized with a plasmid encoding a reporter protein. Transfection efficacies were compared following application of static fields and a novel, oscillating array system at a range of frequencies. The transplantation potential of transfected cells was tested in organotypic cerebellar slice cultures.


RESULTS
Rat astrocytes can be efficiently transfected using MNPs with applied static/oscillating fields; the latter effect is frequency dependent. Transfected astrocytes could survive and differentiate following introduction into 3D neural tissue arrays.


CONCLUSIONS
MNP vectors can safely and effectively transfect rodent astrocytes and could form the basis of a 'multifunctional nanoplatform' for neural cell transplantation.
Cellular & Neural Engineering Group, Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK.
Mark
M
Pickard
Divya
D
Chari
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D008280:Magnetics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014162:Transfection
D004247:DNA