title: Biosynthesis of magnetic nanoparticles by human mesenchymal stem cells following transfection with the magnetotactic bacterial gene mms6.
abstract: The use of stem cells to support tissue repair is facilitated by loading of the therapeutic cells with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) enabling magnetic tracking and targeting. Current methods for magnetizing cells use artificial MNPs and have disadvantages of variable uptake, cellular cytotoxicity and loss of nanoparticles on cell division. Here we demonstrate a transgenic approach to magnetize human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are genetically modified by transfection with the mms6 gene derived from Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1, a magnetotactic bacterium that synthesises single-magnetic domain crystals which are incorporated into magnetosomes. Following transfection of MSCs with the mms6 gene there is bio-assimilated synthesis of intracytoplasmic magnetic nanoparticles which can be imaged by MR and which have no deleterious effects on cell proliferation, migration or differentiation. The assimilation of magnetic nanoparticle synthesis into mammalian cells creates a real and compelling, cytocompatible, alternative to exogenous administration of MNPs.
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Edinburgh, EH9 3FB, UK.|University of Edinburgh, UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, Edinburgh, EH9 3FB, UK.
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elfick
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, MRC IGMM, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
authors.forename: Grigore
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rischitor
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Edinburgh, EH9 3FB, UK.
authors.forename: Rabah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mouras
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, MRC IGMM, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azfer
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Edinburgh, EH9 3FB, UK.|University of Edinburgh, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, MRC IGMM, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lungaro
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD-EMFL), Dresden, 01328, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uhlarz
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD-EMFL), Dresden, 01328, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Herrmannsdörfer
authors.affiliation: University of St Andrews, School of Medicine, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lucocq
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
authors.forename: Wesam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gamal
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bagnaninchi
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ UK.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, Centre for Genomics and Experimental Medicine, MRC IGMM, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Salter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D055944:Magnetosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D042201:Magnetospirillum / Q000502:physiology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles