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Hajiali H, Rotherham M, El Haj AJ. Remote Activation of Mechanotransduction via Integrin Alpha-5 via Aptamer-Conjugated Magnetic Nanoparticles Promotes Osteogenesis. Pharmaceutics 2023; 16:21. [PMID: 38258032 PMCID: PMC10821094 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Bone regeneration and repair are complex processes in the adult skeleton, and current research has focused on understanding and controlling these processes. Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-based platforms have shown potential in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine through the use of magnetic nanomaterials combined with remotely applied dynamic fields. Previous studies have demonstrated the ability of MNP-induced mechanoactivation to trigger downstream signaling and promote new bone formation. In this study, we aimed to compare the osteogenic induction achieved using the mechanoreceptor targets, Piezo1, Fzd1, Fzd2, and integrin alpha-5. We compared the binding efficacy of different types of agonists (antibodies vs. aptamers) to these receptors. Moreover, we optimized the aptamer concentration (2.5, 5, and 10 μg/mg) for the selected receptor to determine the optimum concentration for promoting bone formation. Our data demonstrated that the mechanoactivation of integrins (CD49e) significantly upregulated the RUNX2 and LEF1 genes compared to other selected receptors. Furthermore, comparing the mechanoactivation of cells using MNPs conjugated with CD49e antibodies and aptamers revealed that MNP-aptamers significantly enhanced the upregulation of LEF1 genes. This suggests that aptamer-mediated mechanoactivation is a promising alternative to antibody-mediated activation. Finally, our results showed that the concentration of the aptamer loaded onto the MNPs strongly influenced the mechanoactivation of the cells. These findings provide valuable insights into the use of MNP platforms for bone regeneration and highlight the potential of aptamers in promoting signaling pathways related to bone formation. The novelty of our study lies in elucidating the unique advantages of aptamers in mediating mechanoactivation, presenting a promising avenue for advancing bone regenerative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Hajiali
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
| | | | - Alicia J. El Haj
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
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Rotherham M, Moradi Y, Nahar T, Mosses D, Telling N, El Haj AJ. Magnetic activation of TREK1 triggers stress signalling and regulates neuronal branching in SH-SY5Y cells. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:981421. [PMID: 36545473 PMCID: PMC9761330 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2022.981421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
TWIK-related K+ 1 (TREK1) is a potassium channel expressed in the nervous system with multiple functions including neurotransmission and is a prime pharmacological target for neurological disorders. TREK1 gating is controlled by a wide range of external stimuli including mechanical forces. Previous work has demonstrated that TREK1 can be mechano-activated using magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) functionalised with antibodies targeted to TREK1 channels. Once the MNP are bound, external dynamic magnetic fields are used to generate forces on the TREK channel. This approach has been shown to drive cell differentiation in cells from multiple tissues. In this work we investigated the effect of MNP-mediated TREK1 mechano-activation on early stress response pathways along with the differentiation and connectivity of neuronal cells using the model neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y. Results showed that TREK1 is well expressed in SH-SY5Y and that TREK1-MNP initiate c-Myc/NF-κB stress response pathways as well as Nitrite production after magnetic stimulation, indicative of the cellular response to mechanical cues. Results also showed that TREK1 mechano-activation had no overall effect on neuronal morphology or expression of the neuronal marker βIII-Tubulin in Retinoic Acid (RA)/Brain-derived Neurotrophic factor (BDNF) differentiated SH-SY5Y but did increase neurite number. These results suggest that TREK1 is involved in cellular stress response signalling in neuronal cells, which leads to increased neurite production, but is not involved in regulating RA/BDNF mediated neuronal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Rotherham
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Heritage Building, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom,School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom,Correspondence: Michael Rotherham
| | - Yasamin Moradi
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Tasmin Nahar
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic Mosses
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom,Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Telling
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia J. El Haj
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Heritage Building, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom,School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
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Hu B, Rotherham M, Farrow N, Roach P, Dobson J, El Haj AJ. Immobilization of Wnt Fragment Peptides on Magnetic Nanoparticles or Synthetic Surfaces Regulate Wnt Signaling Kinetics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710164. [PMID: 36077561 PMCID: PMC9456016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling plays an important role in embryogenesis and adult stem cell homeostasis. Its diminished activation is implicated in osteoporosis and degenerative neural diseases. However, systematic administration of Wnt-signaling agonists carries risk, as aberrantly activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling is linked to cancer. Therefore, technologies for local modulation and control of Wnt signaling targeted to specific sites of disease or degeneration have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of degenerative diseases. We reported a facile approach to locally activate the canonical Wnt signaling cascade using nanomagnetic actuation or ligand immobilized platforms. Using a human embryonic kidney (HEK293) Luc-TCF/LEF reporter cell line, we demonstrated that targeting the cell membrane Wnt receptor, Frizzled 2, with peptide-tagged magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) triggered canonical Wnt signaling transduction when exposed to a high-gradient, time-varying magnetic field, and the induced TCF/LEF signal transduction was shown to be avidity-dependent. We also demonstrated that the peptide retained signaling activity after functionalization onto glass surfaces, providing a versatile platform for drug discovery or recreation of the cell niche. In conclusion, these results showed that peptide-mediated Wnt signaling kinetics depended not only on ligand concentration but also on the presentation method of the ligand, which may be further modulated by magnetic actuation. This has important implications when designing future therapeutic platforms involving Wnt mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Hu
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Center, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Michael Rotherham
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Heritage Building, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (A.J.E.H.); Tel.: +44-0121-371-8001 (A.J.E.H.)
| | - Neil Farrow
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Center, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK
| | - Paul Roach
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Center, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Jon Dobson
- J Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Alicia J. El Haj
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Center, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Heritage Building, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (A.J.E.H.); Tel.: +44-0121-371-8001 (A.J.E.H.)
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