Magnetic nanoparticles control neural stem cell behavior in normal and ischemic brain

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the establishment of neural stem cells as a long-lasting source of neurons and glial cells had led to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for a variety of neurodegenerative disorders such as brain stroke. Neural stem cells graft promoted brain protection, regeneration and functional recovery. Nonetheless, the therapeutic benefits of neural stem cells had been limited due to their poor in vivo control of migration, engraftment and differentiation into target tissue.

Recently, nanotechnologies are emerging platforms that could be useful in measuring, understanding and manipulating stem cells. Advanced nanoparticles, carbone nanotubes, and polyplexes have been widely used for stem cell labeling, tracking, differentiation and transplantation.

Here we demonstrated magnetotactic human neural stem cells that can be directed to the desired target lesion via non-invasive, remote magnetic guidance. In the presence of an external magnetic field, the advanced magnetic nanoparticle allowed neural stem cells to possess strong attraction forces, which was sufficient for migration, and highly sensitive MRI contrast that enabled long-term tracking of neural stem cells. We found the enhanced migration and engraftment and promoted neuronal differentiation of non-invasively injected magnetotactic neural stem cells in animal stroke model which resulted in improved neurological function and pathology.