Recent Advances in Magnetic-Nanomaterial-Based Mechanotransduction for Cell Fate Regulation

Remote control of cells and the regulation of cell events at the molecular level are of great interest in the biomedical field. In addition to chemical compounds and genes, mechanical forces play a pivotal role in regulating cell fate, which have prompted the rapid growth of mechanobiology. From a perspective of nanotechnology, magnetic nanomaterials (MNs) are an appealing option for mechanotransduction due to their capabilities in spatiotemporal manipulation of mechanical forces via the magnetic field. As a newly developed paradigm, magneto-mechanotransduction is harnessed to physically regulate cell fate for biomedical applications. Here, the critical factors that determine the magnetomechanical forces induced by MNs in mechanotransduction are briefly reviewed. Recent innovative approaches and their underlying mechanisms for controlling cell fate are highlighted, which offer possibilities for the remote mechanical manipulation of cells and biomolecules in a precise manner. Promising applications including regenerative medicine and cancer treatment based on magnetomechanical stimulation through MNs are also addressed. Perspectives and challenges in MN-based mechanotransduction are commented.