Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Tool for Remote DNA Manipulations at a Single-Molecule Level

Abstract

Remote control of cells and single molecules by magnetic nanoparticles in nonheating external magnetic fields is a perspective approach for many applications such as cancer treatment and enzyme activity regulation. However, the possibility and mechanisms of direct effects of small individual magnetic nanoparticles on such processes in magnetomechanical experiments still remain unclear. In this work, we have shown remote-controlled mechanical dissociation of short DNA duplexes (18−60 bp) under the influence of nonheating low-frequency alternating magnetic fields using individual 11 nm magnetic nanoparticles. The developed technique allows (1) simultaneous manipulation of millions of individual DNA molecules and (2) evaluation of energies of intermolecular interactions in short DNA duplexes or in other molecules. Finally, we have shown that DNA duplexes dissociation is mediated by mechanical stress and produced by the movement of magnetic nanoparticles in magnetic fields, but not by local overheating. The presented technique opens a new avenue for high-precision manipulation of DNA and generation of biosensors for quantification of energies of intermolecular interaction.

Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles for Tumor Therapy: Effective Heating versus Possible Toxicity

“…EDX analysis revealed Co, Fe, and O contents of 11.4 ± 1.1 at-%, 25.5 ± 1.3 at-%, and 63.0 ± 1.5 at-%, respectively. Higher O content is often found due to storage in air, and more importantly, structural investigations by X-ray diffraction have proven the inverse spinel structure of CoFe 2 O 4 MNPs [ 23 ].…”

“…The study of magnetostatic properties of synthesized MNPs powder yielded a saturation magnetization of M S = 65.3 Am 2 kg −1 at B = 9 T and T = 5 K and 48.1 Am 2 kg −1 (46.5 Am 2 kg −1 ) at B = 3 T and T = 300 K (318 K). The mean superparamagnetic blocking temperature is T B = 72 K as deduced from Sharrock fitting of the coercive field as function of temperature with a broad distribution showing irreversibilities of the ZFC/FC curves up to 250 K [ 23 ]. For frequencies in the few 100 kHz range the MNPs are magnetically blocked at physiological temperatures.…”

“…EDX analysis revealed Co, Fe, and O contents of 11.4 ± 1.1 at-%, 25.5 ± 1.3 at-%, and 63.0 ± 1.5 at-%, respectively. Higher O content is often found due to storage in air, and more importantly, structural investigations by X-ray diffraction have proven the inverse spinel structure of CoFe 2 O 4 MNPs [23]. Intracellular biotransformation of iron-based MNPs is a characteristic process for living organisms, because iron is an important element for them [24].…”

Magneto-Mechanical Approach in Biomedicine: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

“…The MNP-mediated contact forces F T , F C , and F Sh in uniform MFs are comparable and are within the same order of magnitude. Numerical estimations show that their values are in the wide range of 10 −1 –10 2 pN [ 6 , 31 , 51 ], which are enough, for example, to disrupt the antibody–antigen interaction or destroy the link between the lipid membrane and the membrane protein [ 52 ].…”

Nanogap Electrode-Enabled Versatile Electrokinetic Manipulation of Nanometric Species in Fluids

“…The manipulation of nanoscopic species in liquids has attracted considerable attention due to its potential applications in diverse fields [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. In particular, the ability to concentrate, sort, and separate nanoparticles is highly desirable for a variety of practical functionalities [ 6 ].…”