Magnetic Field-Mediated Control of Whole-Cell Biocatalysis

For decades, scientists have been looking for a way to control catalytic and biocatalytic processes through external physical stimuli. In this Letter, for the first time, we demonstrate the 150 ± 8% increase of the conversion of glucose to ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae due to the application of a low-frequency magnetic field (100 Hz). This effect was achieved by the specially developed magnetic urchin-like particles, consisting of micrometer-sized core coated nanoneedles with high density, which could provide a biosafe permeabilization of cell membranes in a selected frequency and concentration range. We propose an acceleration mechanism based on magnetic field-induced cell membrane permeabilization. The ability to control cell metabolism without affecting their viability is a promising way for industrial biosynthesis to obtain a beneficial product with genetically engineered cells and subsequent improvement of biotechnological processes.