title: Movement of magnetic nanoparticles in brain tissue: mechanisms and impact on normal neuronal function.
abstract: Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been used as effective vehicles for targeted delivery of theranostic agents in the brain. The advantage of magnetic targeting lies in the ability to control the concentration and distribution of therapy to a desired target region using external driving magnets. In this study, we investigated the behavior and safety of MNP motion in brain tissue. We found that MNPs move and form nanoparticle chains in the presence of a uniform magnetic field, and that this chaining is influenced by the applied magnetic field intensity and the concentration of MNPs in the tissue. Using electrophysiology recordings, immunohistochemistry and fluorescent imaging we assessed the functional health of neurons and neural circuits and found no adverse effects associated with MNP motion through brain tissue.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Much research has been done to test the use of nanocarriers for gaining access across the blood brain barrier (BBB). In this respect, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are one of the most studied candidates. Nonetheless, the behavior and safety of MNP once inside brain tissue remains unknown. In this article, the authors thus studied this very important subject.
authors.affiliation: Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. Electronic address: bharathr@umd.edu.
authors.forename: Bharath
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramaswamy
authors.affiliation: Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Sandip D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Pablo S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Villar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eberly
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Ricardo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Araneda
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Systems Research (ISR), University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Didier A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Depireux
authors.affiliation: Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; The Institute for Systems Research (ISR), University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D000068936:Theranostic Nanomedicine; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles
keywords: Brain; Drug delivery; Magnetic nanoparticles; Safety; Transport