Magnetothermal Modulation of Calcium‐Dependent Nerve Growth. (3rd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rosenfeld, Dekel; Field, Hannah; Kim, Ye Ji; Pang, Karen Ka Lam; Nagao, Keisuke; Koehler, Florian; Anikeeva, Polina
• Other Names: Gomes Manuela E. guestEditor.; Domingues Rui M. A. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 32:Number 50(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-08-03
• Subjects: alternating magnetic fields -- calcium -- dorsal root ganglion -- magnetic nanoparticles -- nerve growth -- TRPV1; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202204558
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract: Nerve injuries are common, and the available treatments including invasive surgeries do not guarantee complete regeneration of the injured nerves and restoration of function. Despite the ability of peripheral nerves to regenerate, the slow rate of axonal growth hampers the functional recovery. Development of new approaches to discover underlying mechanisms that may accelerate axonal growth is needed to overcome these limitations and augment available treatments of nerve injury. In addition to chemical factors, recent studies suggested the use of optogenetics and electrical stimulation to promote axonal growth. The underlying mechanisms of these approaches, however, require further investigation. Furthermore, their application relies on invasive hardware, which may not be compatible with injured nerves under significant mechanical deformation. Here, it is shown that thermal activation of a heat sensitive ion channel TRPV1 promotes axonal growth in a calcium‐dependent manner. By leveraging heat dissipation of magnetic nanoparticles in alternating magnetic fields, the calcium influx through TRPV1 channels endogenously expressed in dorsal root ganglion explants is triggered remotely. The accelerated axonal growth through elongation of neurofilaments and increased Schwann cell migration following magnetothermal stimulation is observed. These findings suggest future applications of magnetothermal modulation of axonal growth as a minimally invasive approach to accelerate nerve regeneration. Abstract : An approach to promoting axonal growth by recruiting calcium‐dependent processes is presented via leveraging of the heat‐sensitive ion channel TRPV1, robustly expressed in the peripheral nervous system. TRPV1 is activated by the heat dissipated by magnetic nanoparticles upon exposure to weak remotely applied alternating magnetic fields. Accelerated nerve growth is demonstrated via elongation of cytoskeletal neurofilaments.