Life on magnets: stem cell networking on micro-magnet arrays

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 1;8(8):e70416. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070416. Print 2013.

Abstract

Interactions between a micro-magnet array and living cells may guide the establishment of cell networks due to the cellular response to a magnetic field. To manipulate mesenchymal stem cells free of magnetic nanoparticles by a high magnetic field gradient, we used high quality micro-patterned NdFeB films around which the stray field's value and direction drastically change across the cell body. Such micro-magnet arrays coated with parylene produce high magnetic field gradients that affect the cells in two main ways: i) causing cell migration and adherence to a covered magnetic surface and ii) elongating the cells in the directions parallel to the edges of the micro-magnet. To explain these effects, three putative mechanisms that incorporate both physical and biological factors influencing the cells are suggested. It is shown that the static high magnetic field gradient generated by the micro-magnet arrays are capable of assisting cell migration to those areas with the strongest magnetic field gradient, thereby allowing the build up of tunable interconnected stem cell networks, which is an elegant route for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Survival
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnets*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Nanoparticles
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Array Analysis / methods*

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Ferric Compounds
  • ferric oxide

Grants and funding

GACR: P304/11/0653, P304/12/1370; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic: grant M100101219 and the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR, grant ANR-11-BSV5-014 02). Substrate Patterning was carried out at the Plateforme Technologique Amont (PTA-Grenoble). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.