Magnetic nanoparticle mediated transfection of neural stem cell suspension cultures is enhanced by applied oscillating magnetic fields

Safe genetic modification of neural stem cell (NSC) transplant populations is a key goal for regenerative neurology. We describe a technically simple and safe method to increase transfection in NSCs propagated in the neurosphere (suspension culture) model, using magnetic nanoparticles deployed with applied oscillating magnetic fields (‘magnetofection technology’). We show that transfection efficiency was enhanced over two-fold by oscillating magnetic fields (frequency = 4 Hz). The protocols had no effect on cell viability, cell number, stem cell marker expression and differentiation profiles of ‘magnetofected’ cultures, highlighting the safety of the technique. As far as we are aware, this is the first successful application of magnetofection technology to suspension cultures of neural cells. The procedures described offer a means to augment the therapeutic potential of NSCs propagated as neurospheres – a culture model of high clinical translational relevance – by safe genetic manipulation, with further potential for incorporation into ‘magneto-multifection’ (repeat transfection) protocols.From the Clinical EditorThis team of investigators describe a simple and safe method to increase transfection in neural stem cells using magnetic nanoparticles deployed with oscillating magnetic fields, demonstrating a greater than two-fold transfection efficiency increase by applying low frequency magnetic oscillation.

Graphical AbstractGenetically engineered neural stem cell (NSC) transplant populations offer major advantages for neural repair, such as concomitant cell replacement and therapeutic biomolecule delivery. In turn, culture of NSCs as neurospheres, offers clinical translational advantages such as ease of production and high cell survival upon transplantation. Here we show that magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) mediated transfection of neurospheres is safely enhanced by application of oscillating magnetic fields, offering a strategy to genetically engineer this important cell transplant population.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (390 K)Download as PowerPoint slide