title: Remote control of ion channels and neurons through magnetic-field heating of nanoparticles.
abstract: Recently, optical stimulation has begun to unravel the neuronal processing that controls certain animal behaviours. However, optical approaches are limited by the inability of visible light to penetrate deep into tissues. Here, we show an approach based on radio-frequency magnetic-field heating of nanoparticles to remotely activate temperature-sensitive cation channels in cells. Superparamagnetic ferrite nanoparticles were targeted to specific proteins on the plasma membrane of cells expressing TRPV1, and heated by a radio-frequency magnetic field. Using fluorophores as molecular thermometers, we show that the induced temperature increase is highly localized. Thermal activation of the channels triggers action potentials in cultured neurons without observable toxic effects. This approach can be adapted to stimulate other cell types and, moreover, may be used to remotely manipulate other cellular machinery for novel therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delikanli
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ferkey
authors.forename: Arnd
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pralle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004330:Drosophila; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels