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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Synthesis of Cationized Magnetoferritin for Ultra-fast Magnetization of Cells
Published on: December 13, 2016
Rapid and efficient magnetization of mesenchymal stem cells by dendrimer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles
Nunzia Di Maggio1, Elisa Martella2,3, Steve Meikle4
1Cell & Gene Therapy, Department of Biomedicine, Basel University & Department of Surgery, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
Aim:
Rapid and efficient magnetization of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) through functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNP).
Methods:
MNP were functionalized with poly(epsilon-lysine) dendrons exposing carboxybetaine residue (CB-MNP) to enhance binding to the cellular glycocalix. BMSC were incubated with CB-MNP or non-functionalized PAA-MNP for 5-30 min in suspension.
Results:
CB-MNP functionalization increased the magnetization efficiency by threefold. Remarkably, 66% of cells were magnetized after only 5 min and the maximum efficiency of >80% was reached by 15 min. BMSC viability, proliferation and differentiation were not impaired: actually, adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation were even improved.
Conclusion:
Carboxybetaine-dendron functionalization ensured rapid and efficient BMSC magnetization and allowed innovative suspension labeling, with a potential for bypassing adhesion culture of progenitors for regenerative medicine.
