Emerging translational research on magnetic nanoparticles for regenerative medicine

Abstract

Regenerative medicine, which replaces or regenerates human cells, tissues or organs, to restore or establish normal function, is one of the fastest-evolving interdisciplinary fields in healthcare. Over 200 regenerative medicine products, including cell-based therapies, tissue-engineered biomaterials, scaffolds and implantable devices, have been used in clinical development for diseases such as diabetes and inflammatory and immune diseases. To facilitate the translation of regenerative medicine from research to clinic, nanotechnology, especially magnetic nanoparticles have attracted extensive attention due to their unique optical, electrical, and magnetic properties and specific dimensions. In this review paper, we intend to summarize current advances, challenges, and future opportunities of magnetic nanoparticles for regenerative medicine.

Microfluidic Generation of Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications

“…[23][24][25] One of the main reasons is that reproducible synthesis of NMs having identical properties and sufficient quantities remains difficult. [26][27][28] Although many preparation methods have been applied to generate NMs, majorities suffer from poor control over reaction conditions, resulting in heterogeneity of obtained NMs. [29][30][31][32] Thus, there is an urgent need for developing an easily-manipulated technique to synthesize high-quality NMs.…”

Magnetic Nanomaterials for Advanced Regenerative Medicine: The Promise and Challenges

“…However, poor site‐specific delivery efficiency and retention of transplanted cells are major challenges for effective therapy. A magnetically controlled delivery strategy is often used to improve the delivery efficiency and reduce the loss of transplanted stem cells . For example, artificial magnetic stents/scaffolds can be magnetized under an external field to generate localized magnetic gradients around them.…”

“…In terms of regenerative medicine, the delivered cargo can be growth factors, drugs or cells. For tissue regeneration, significant improvements in cell viability, engraftment, and control over the fate of cells are possible using cargo‐loaded MIONs and magnetic scaffolds as compared to cell injections or infusions …”

“…As certified by approved nanomedicinal approaches, the triumphant applications of nanoparticle‐based tissue regeneration lie in the intelligent design of the nanoparticle, with tailored properties for more effective and much safer treatment. In particular, the above advantages have drawn increased attention to the further exploitation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs) apart from their well‐established use as imaging and therapeutic agents in preclinical and clinical settings . Significant applications of MIONs in tissue regeneration research include but are not limited to: 1) magnetically controlled delivery and on‐demand release of cargos required for tissue regeneration; 2) real‐time visualization and tracking of transplanted cells using MIONs as tracers; 3) magnetic regulation of transplanted cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation; and 4) magnetic activation of targeted regeneration‐relevant ion channels and signal pathways.…”

Regulated Drug Release Abilities of Calcium Carbonate–Gelatin Hybrid Nanocarriers Fabricated via a Self‐Organizational Process

“…Nanocarriers that are highly sensitive to surrounding conditions (pH, temperature, concentration of biomolecules in the affected area, among others)h ave been actively studied as a base for several medical research areas, such as regenerative medicine, [1][2][3] drug delivery, [4][5][6][7][8] and gene therapy. [9,10] Nanocarriers are especially important in the research for new drug delivery systems, with the aim of improving patients' quality of life and reducing ad rug's side effects.…”