Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2025
09:00
Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles
Published on: November 3, 2010
10.4K
Magnetic diatom shells: nature's blueprint for cellular transport.
Alice Lunghi1, Danilo Vona2, Stefania Roberta Cicco3
1Department of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|May 2, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to move multiple cells safely using magnetized diatom shells. This technique allows for controlled cell relocation, advancing biomaterials and biosensing applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cell Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Moving cells without affecting their function is crucial for regenerative medicine and biosensing.
- Current methods for cell manipulation can be complex and may impact cell viability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel method for simultaneous, safe, and efficient relocation of multiple cells.
- To utilize functionalized diatom shells as carriers for magnetic cell manipulation.
Main Methods:
- Functionalization of porous diatom biosilica shells with ferromagnetic nanoparticles.
- Adhesion of neuronal cells to the functionalized diatom shells.
- Magnetic manipulation of cell-loaded diatom shells using an external magnet.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated safe transfer of neuron-loaded diatom shells via pipetting.
- Showcased controlled magnetic movement of cells, including twirling and movement in fluidic channels.
- Confirmed the viability of the cell relocation strategy.
Conclusions:
- Magnetized diatom shells offer a promising platform for simultaneous cell displacement.
- This proof-of-concept enables efficient and safe cell relocation for various applications.
- The strategy opens new avenues in tissue engineering and biosensing.
More Related Videos
05:09Author Spotlight: Magnetic-Based Cell Patterning Method for High-Throughput Biomedical Applications
Published on: February 2, 2024
1.3K
11:28Isolating and Incorporating Light-Harvesting Antennas from Diatom Cyclotella Meneghiniana in Liposomes with Thylakoid Lipids
Published on: August 28, 2018
7.7K
Related Concept Videos
01:43The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
4.3K
In eukaryotic cells, cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
4.3K
01:44Introduction to Membrane Traffic
6.4K
The ER, Golgi apparatus, endosomes, and lysosomes work in tandem to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids. An integrated membrane trafficking network facilitates the back and forth shuttling of molecules within different organelles in the same cell or across the cell membrane.
The transport of soluble and membrane proteins is mediated by transport vesicles that collect cargo from one cellular compartment and deliver it to another by fusing with the target organelle membrane. The Rab...
The transport of soluble and membrane proteins is mediated by transport vesicles that collect cargo from one cellular compartment and deliver it to another by fusing with the target organelle membrane. The Rab...
6.4K
01:32Pinching-off of Coated Vesicles
2.9K
Vesicle budding is orchestrated by distinct cytosolic proteins such as adaptor proteins, coat proteins, and GTPases. To initiate vesicle budding, membrane-bending proteins containing crescent-shaped BAR domains bind to the lipid heads in the bilayer and distort the membrane to form a protein-coated vesicle bud. Adaptors proteins such as AP2 for clathrin-coated vesicles can nucleate on the deformed membrane. Finally, coat proteins such as clathrin or COPI and COPII assemble into a coat forming...
2.9K
01:21Structure of Porins
2.8K
Mitochondria, chloroplasts, and gram-negative bacteria have transmembrane, beta-barrel proteins called porins to mediate the free diffusion of ions and metabolites across the membrane. Mitochondrial porin precursors contain conserved amino acid sequences called beta signals at their C-terminal. Beta signals have a motif of PoXGXXHyXHy (Po-Polar, X-Any amino acid, G-Glycine, Hy-LargeHydrophobic), which are crucial for precursor recognition to initiate precursor assembly. Beta-barrel...
2.8K
00:59Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
2.9K
Different physical properties of lipids and proteins allow them to localize and form distinct islands or domains in the membrane. Some membrane domains are formed due to protein-protein interactions, whereas others are formed due to the presence of specific lipids such as sphingolipids and sterols—for example, large proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin, aggregate and create distinct domains.
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
2.9K
01:12Clathrin Coated Vesicles
6.4K
Clathrin-coated vesicles use endocytosis to transport receptors and lysosomal hydrolases from the Golgi to the lysosome in the late secretory pathway. Clathrin-mediated endocytosis was the first described endocytic process, and Clathrin-coated vesicles remain one of the most well-studied transport vesicles. The molecular machinery that generates clathrin-coated vesicles comprises over 50 proteins that precisely coordinate vesicle formation. Cell surface receptors concentrated in indented sites...
6.4K