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Transplanting mesenchymal stem cells into injured lesions is currently under study as a therapeutic approach for spinal cord injury. In this study, the effects of a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on injured rat spinal cord were investigated in magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-incorporated human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). A histological analysis revealed significant differences in MNP-incorporated cell distribution near the injured site under the PEMF in comparison with that in the control group. We confirmed that MNP-incorporated cells were widely distributed in the lesions under PEMF. The results suggest that MNP-incorporated hBM-MSCs were guided by the PEMF near the injured site, and that PEMF exposure for 8 H per day over 4 weeks promoted behavioral recovery in spinal cord injured rats. The results show that rats with MNP-incorporated hBM-MSCs under a PEMF were more effective on the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan behavioral test and suggest that the PEMF enhanced the action of transplanted cells for recovery of the injured lesion.

Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) have been investigated as a new cell-therapeutic solution due to their capacity that could differentiate into neural-like cells. Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) therapy has emerged as a novel technique, using mechanical stimulus to differentiate hBM-MSCs and significantly enhance neuronal differentiation to affect cellular and molecular reactions. Magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (MNPs) have recently achieved widespread use for biomedical applications and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-labeled nanoparticles are used to increase their circulation time, aqueous solubility, biocompatibility, and nonspecific cellular uptake as well as to decrease immunogenicity. Many studies have used MNP-labeled cells for differentiation, but there have been no reports of MNP-labeled neural differentiation combined with EMFs. In this study, synthesized PEG-phospholipid encapsulated magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are used on hBM-MSCs to improve their intracellular uptake. The PEGylated nanoparticles were exposed to the cells under 50 Hz of EMFs to improve neural differentiation. First, we measured cell viability and intracellular iron content in hBM-MSCs after treatment with MNPs. Analysis was conducted by RT-PCR, and immunohistological analysis using neural cell type-specific genes and antibodies after exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields. These results suggest that electromagnetic fields enhance neural differentiation in hBM-MSCs incorporated with MNPs and would be an effective method for differentiating neural cells.

Despite advances in medical treatments, the proportion of the population suffering from alopecia is increasing, thereby creating a need for new treatments to control hair loss and prevent balding. Human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (hDPCs), a type of specialized fibroblast in the hair bulb, play an essential role in controlling hair growth and in conditions like androgenic alopecia. This study aimed to evaluate the intensity-dependent effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on the expression of anagen-related molecules in hDPCs in vitro. We examined the effect of ELF-EMF on hDPCs to determine whether activation of the GSK-3β/ERK/Akt signaling pathway improved hDPC activation and proliferation; hDPCs were exposed to ELF-EMFs at a frequency of 70 Hz and at intensities ranging from 5 to 100 G, over four days. Various PEMF intensities significantly increased the expression of anagen-related molecules, including collagen IV, laminin, ALP, and versican. In particular, an intensity of 10 G is most potent for promoting the proliferation of hDPC and expression of anagen-related molecules. Moreover, 10 G ELF-EMF significantly increased β-catenin and Wnt3α expression and GSK-3β/ERK/Akt phosphorylation. Our results confirmed that ELF-EMFs enhance hDPC activation and proliferation via the GSK-3β/ERK/Akt signaling pathway, suggesting a potential treatment strategy for alopecia.