Magnetic nanomaterials in magnetic fields can serve as versatile transducers for remote interrogation of cell functions. In this study, we leveraged the transition from vortex to in-plane magnetization in iron oxide nanodiscs to modulate the activity of mechanosensory cells. When a vortex configuration of spins is present in magnetic nanomaterials, it enables rapid control over their magnetization direction and magnitude. The vortex configuration manifests in near zero net magnetic moment in the absence of a magnetic field, affording greater colloidal stability of magnetic nanomaterials in suspensions. Together, these properties invite the application of magnetic vortex particles as transducers of externally applied minimally invasive magnetic stimuli in biological systems. Using magnetic modeling and electron holography, we predict and experimentally demonstrate magnetic vortex states in an array of colloidally synthesized magnetite nanodiscs 98–226 nm in diameter. The magnetic nanodiscs applied as transducers of torque for remote control of mechanosensory neurons demonstrated the ability to trigger Ca2+ influx in weak (≤28 mT), slowly varying (≤5 Hz) magnetic fields. The extent of cellular response was determined by the magnetic nanodisc volume and magnetic field conditions. Magnetomechanical activation of a mechanosensitive cation channel TRPV4 (transient receptor potential vanilloid family member 4) exogenously expressed in the nonmechanosensitive HEK293 cells corroborated that the stimulation is mediated by mechanosensitive ion channels. With their large magnetic torques and colloidal stability, magnetic vortex particles may facilitate basic studies of mechanoreception and its applications to control electroactive cells with remote magnetic stimuli.

We report macroscopic synthesis of silica nanotubes by the sol–gel template method. A large number of silica nanotubes with small diameters (30–50 nm) were produced and were shaped into flakes successfully. Strong photoluminescence (PL) was observed in both as-grown and annealed nanotube flakes. The PL spectra have maxima at 2.55 and 2.30 eV for the as-grown and annealed samples, respectively; the PL intensity of annealed nanotubes is much higher than that of as-grown nanotubes. The strong emission may be due to the Si–OH complex located on both the inner and outer surfaces of the nanotubes. The nanotube flakes we prepared may have potential applications in future integrated optical devices.

An original algorithm for measuring diffusion coefficients of optical molecular probes in matrigel from fluorescence data is introduced. The algorithm was developed in Fortran and linked to Graphic User Interface in LabVIEW software that also performs image acquisition and processing. The software models pharmacokinetics of optical molecular probes providing the best fit of experimental data. The paper offers an original way for estimating the diffusion path length through extracellular matrix (ECM) from the rate constants given by the model and from measured diffusion coefficients.

In this work, we demonstrate the application of anisotropic magnetite nanodiscs (MNDs) as transducers of torque to mechanosensory cells under weak, slowly varying magnetic fields (MFs). These MNDs possess a ground state vortex configuration of magnetic spins which affords greater colloidal stability due to eliminated dipole-dipole interactions characteristic of isotropic magnetic particles of similar size. We first predict vortex magnetization using micromagnetic stimulations in sub-micron anisotropic magnetite particles and then use electron holography to experimentally investigate the magnetization of MNDs 98–226 nm in diameter. When MNDs are coupled to MFs, they transition between vortex and in-plane magnetization allowing for the exertion of the torque on the pN scale, which is sufficient to activate mechanosensitive ion channels in cell membranes.<br>