title: The orientation of the neuronal growth process can be directed via magnetic nanoparticles under an applied magnetic field.
abstract: There is a growing body of evidence indicating the importance of physical stimuli for neuronal growth and development. Specifically, results from published experimental studies indicate that forces, when carefully controlled, can modulate neuronal regeneration. Here, we validate a non-invasive approach for physical guidance of nerve regeneration based on the synergic use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and magnetic fields (Ms). The concept is that the application of a tensile force to a neuronal cell can stimulate neurite initiation or axon elongation in the desired direction, the MNPs being used to generate this tensile force under the effect of a static external magnetic field providing the required directional orientation. In a neuron-like cell line, we have confirmed that MNPs direct the neurite outgrowth preferentially along the direction imposed by an external magnetic field, by inducing a net angle displacement (about 30°) of neurite direction. From the clinical editor: This study validates that non-invasive approaches for physical guidance of nerve regeneration based on the synergic use of magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic fields are possible. The hypothesis was confirmed by observing preferential neurite outgrowth in a cell culture system along the direction imposed by an external magnetic field.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: c.riggio@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riggio
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Pedro Cerbuna, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: pilarcs@unizar.es.
authors.forename: M Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Calatayud
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy; Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: m.giannaccini@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannaccini
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: beasanz@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Pedro Cerbuna, Zaragoza, Spain; Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: teo@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Teobaldo E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Zaragoza, Spain; Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: pacheco@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Toscana "Gabriele Monasterio", Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: andrearipoli@ftgm.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ripoli
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Pedro Cerbuna, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: ibarra@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Manuel Ricardo
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ibarra
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: ldente@biologia.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dente
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: a.cuschieri@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuschieri
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor, Zaragoza, Spain; Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Pedro Cerbuna, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: goya@unizar.es.
authors.forename: Gerardo F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Goya
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy; Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: vraffa@biologia.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raffa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008280:Magnetics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats
keywords: Magnetic field; Magnetic nanoparticle; Nerve regeneration; Neurite outgrowth orientation; Physical guidance