Biogenic magnetic nanoparticles in human organs and tissues

Modulation of calcium signaling and metabolic pathways in endothelial cells with magnetic fields

Calcium signaling plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, including muscle contraction, cell division, and neurotransmitter release. Dysregulation of calcium levels and signaling has been linked to a range of pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Here, we propose a theoretical model that predicts the modulation of calcium ion channel activity and calcium signaling in the endothelium through the application of either a time-varying or static gradient magnetic field (MF). This modulation is achieved by exerting magnetic forces or torques on either biogenic or non-biogenic magnetic nanoparticles that are bound to endothelial cell membranes. Since calcium signaling in endothelial cells induces neuromodulation and influences blood flow control, treatment with a magnetic field shows promise for regulating neurovascular coupling and treating vascular dysfunctions associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, magnetic treatment can enable control over the decoding of Ca signals, ultimately impacting protein synthesis. The ability to modulate calcium wave frequencies using MFs and the MF-controlled decoding of Ca signaling present promising avenues for treating diseases characterized by calcium dysregulation.

Interaction of magnetic fields with biogenic magnetic nanoparticles on cell membranes: Physiological consequences for organisms in health and disease

The interaction mechanisms between magnetic fields (MFs) and living systems, which remained hidden for more than a hundred years, continue to attract the attention of researchers from various disciplines: physics, biology, medicine, and life sciences. Revealing these mechanisms at the cellular level would allow to understand complex cell systems and could help to explain and predict cell responses to MFs, intervene in organisms' reactions to MFs of different strengths, directions, and spatial distributions. We suggest several new physical mechanisms of the MF impacts on endothelial and cancer cells by the MF interaction with chains of biogenic and non-biogenic magnetic nanoparticles on cell membranes. The revealed mechanisms can play a hitherto unexpected role in creating physiological responses of organisms to externally applied MFs. We have also a set of theoretical models that can predict how cells will individually and collectively respond to a MF exposure. The physiological sequences of the MF - cell interactions for organisms in health and disease are discussed. The described effects and their underlying mechanisms are general and should take place in a large family of biological effects of MFs. The results are of great importance for further developing novel approaches in cell biology, cell therapy and medicine.

Gradient Magnetic Field Accelerates Division of E. coli Nissle 1917

Cell-cycle progression is regulated by numerous intricate endogenous mechanisms, among which intracellular forces and protein motors are central players. Although it seems unlikely that it is possible to speed up this molecular machinery by applying tiny external forces to the cell, we show that magnetic forcing of magnetosensitive bacteria reduces the duration of the mitotic phase. In such bacteria, the coupling of the cell cycle to the splitting of chains of biogenic magnetic nanoparticles (BMNs) provides a biological realization of such forcing. Using a static gradient magnetic field of a special spatial configuration, in probiotic bacteria E. coli Nissle 1917, we shortened the duration of the mitotic phase and thereby accelerated cell division. Thus, focused magnetic gradient forces exerted on the BMN chains allowed us to intervene in the processes of division and growth of bacteria. The proposed magnetic-based cell division regulation strategy can improve the efficiency of microbial cell factories and medical applications of magnetosensitive bacteria.

Bioinformatics Analysis of Protein Homologues of Magnetotactic Bacteria Magnetosome Island Proteins in Human Proteome

Background. The number of biogenic magnetic nanoparticles (BMN), present in human organs and tissues in the form of magnetite (ferrimagnetic iron oxide), increases in oncological and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, the study of homologues of BMN biomineralization proteins (mam-proteins) of magnetotaxis bacteria (MTB) in human proteome is relevant task. This concern is due primarily to the expediency of establishing patterns of changes in the expression of these proteins and searching for correlations with oncological and neurodegenerative diseases. Objective. We are aimed to conduct the bioinformatic analysis of homologues of MTB mam-proteins in humans and to determine the patterns of changes in the expression of these proteins, as well as to search for their connections with the specified diseases. This will allow to identify the main candidate proteins (among the known homologues of MTB mam-proteins in humans) for experimental verification of their participation in the genetically programmed mechanism of BMN biosynthesis in humans. Methods. The methods of comparative genomics were used, in particular the BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) program of the NCBI database. Database tools were also used: NCBI Conserved Domain Search, The Cancer Genome Atlas database, Ensembl database. Results. The bioinformatic analysis of 16 homologues of MTB mam-proteins in humans was carried out, namely: PEX5, ANAPC7, CDC23, CDC27 and SGTA – homologues of MamA in MTB; SLC30A4, SLC30A9, SLC39A3 and SLC39A4 – homologs of MamB and MamM in MTB; HTRA1, HTRA2, HTRA3 and HTRA4 – MamO and MamE homologues in MTB; SCRIB, PDZK1 and PDZD3 – MamE homologues in MTB. Using pairwise alignments, the degree of homology between the mam-proteins of the MTB magnetosome island and the corresponding human proteins was determined, conserved domains and their functions were determined, changes in their expression levels in cancer and normal conditions were determined by analyzing the relevant databases, and the metabolic pathways to which the data proteins are involved were analysed. The analysis of the obtained data allowed to assume the presence of the main homologues of the MTB mam-proteins of the magnetosome island in humans, which cause an increase in the level of BMN in oncological and neurodegenerative diseases, namely: an increase in the expression level of the proteins PEX5, ANAPC7 (homologs of MamA), SLC39A3, SLC39A4 (homologs of MamB and MamM), HTRA4 (MamO and MamE homolog) and SCRIB (MamE homolog). Conclusions. The obtained data allow us to assume that the proteins PEX5, ANAPC7, SGTA, SLC39A3, SLC39A4, HTRA4 and SCRIB are the main homologues of the MTB mam-proteins in humans and cause an increase in the level of BMN in oncological and neurodegenerative diseases.

Chain-Like Structures of Biogenic and Nonbiogenic Magnetic Nanoparticles in Vascular Tissues

In this paper, slices of organs from various organisms (animals, plants, fungi) were investigated by using atomic force microscopy and magnetic force microscopy to identify common features of localization of both biogenic and nonbiogenic magnetic nanoparticles. It was revealed that both biogenic and nonbiogenic magnetic nanoparticles are localized in the form of chains of separate nanoparticles or chains of conglomerates of nanoparticles in the walls of the capillaries of animals and the walls of the conducting tissue of plants and fungi. Both biogenic and nonbiogenic magnetic nanoparticles are embedded as a part of the transport system in multicellular organisms. In connection with this, a new idea of the function of biogenic magnetic nanoparticles is discussed, that the chains of biogenic magnetic nanoparticles and chains of conglomerates of biogenic magnetic nanoparticles represent ferrimagnetic organelles of a specific purpose. Besides, magnetic dipole-dipole interaction of biogenic magnetic nanoparticles with magnetically labeled drugs or contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging should be considered when designing the drug delivery and other medical systems because biogenic magnetic nanoparticles in capillary walls will serve as the trapping centers for the artificial magnetic nanoparticles. The aggregates of both artificial and biogenic magnetic nanoparticles can be formed, contributing to the risk of vascular occlusion. Bioelectromagnetics. 43:119-143, 2022. © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

The Effect of Magnetite Nanoparticles on the Growth and Development of Nicotiana Tabacum Plants in Vivo and in Vitro Culture

Background. Nanomaterials are easily modified and have unique characteristics associated with a large reactive surface Due to these properties, nanomaterials are used in various branches of sciences and technology, such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemical technology, etc. Recently, the effect of magnetite nanoparticles on the morphological properties of plants has been actively studied for their further use as nanoadditives to increase yields and improve the properties of agricultural plants. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is a model object of plant biotechnology, it is used to study the effect of various factors on dicotyledonous plants, so it was chosen to study the effect of magnetite on the growth, development, and mass accumulation by plants. Objective. We are aimed to study the effect of magnetite nanoparticles on the growth and development of Nicotiana tabacum in vivo and in vitro. Methods. The ability of tobacco to produce biogenic magnetic nanoparticles by searching for mammal proteins homologues in theNicotiana tabacum proteome using the Blast NCBI program was studied using comparative genomics methods. The plants were divided into groups (control, magnetite nanoparticle concentration 0.1 mg/cm3, magnetite nanoparticle concentration 1 mg/cm3) for both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Analysis of plant parameters was performed every 14 days to study the dynamics of the effects of magnetite nanoparticles. Results. It was determined that magnetite nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.1 mg/cm3 in culture in vitro and in vivo significantly affect the growth of the root system and sprouts of Nicotiana tabacum. On the 56th day of plant cultivation in vitro on a salivary medium supplemented with magnetite nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.1 mg/cm3, an increase in the shoot length by 13.3%, root length by 31.7%, and the mass of absolutely dry substances by 18.75% was observed compared to the control. Treatment of magnetite nanoparticles with a suspension at a concentration of 0.1 mg/cm3 led to more pronounced results when growing tobacco in vivo. So, on the56th day, the root length increased by 23.3%, the length of the shoot – by 19.2%, and the mass of absolutely dry substances – by2 times, the first leaves appeared 2 days earlier compared to the control. The addition of magnetite nanoparticles to the substrate on which the plants were grown in vivo at a concentration of 1 mg/cm3 inhibits the growth of tobacco. Conclusions. Studies have shown the expediency of using magnetic nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.1 mg/cm3 as nanofertilizers in tobacco cultivation.