Contact Information
Available for logged-in reporters only
Newswise Its the most basic of ways to find out what something does, whether its an unmarked circuit breaker or an unidentified gene flip its switch and see what happens. New remote-control technology may offer biologists a powerful way to do this with cells and genes. A team at Rockefeller University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is developing a system that would make it possible to remotely control biological targets in living animals rapidly, without wires, implants or drugs.
Today (December 15) in the journal Nature Medicine, the team describes successfully using electromagnetic waves to turn on insulin production to lower blood sugar in diabetic mice. Their system couples a natural iron storage particle, ferritin, to activate an ion channel called TRPV1 such that when the metal particle is exposed to a radio wave or magnetic field it opens the channel, leading to the activation of an insulin producing gene. Together, the two proteins act as a nano-machine that can be used to trigger gene expression in cells.
The method allows one to wirelessly control the expression of genes in a living animal and could potentially be used for conditions like hemophilia to control the production of a missing protein. Two key attributes are that the system is genetically encoded and can activate cells remotely and quickly, says Jeffrey Friedman, Marilyn M. Simpson Professor head of the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics at Rockefeller. We are now exploring whether the method can also be used to control neural activity as a means for noninvasively modulating the activity of neural circuits. Friedman and his Rensselaer colleague Jonathan S. Dordick were co-senior researchers on the project.
Other techniques exist for remotely controlling the activity of cells or the expression of genes in living animals. But these have limitations. Systems that use light as an on/off signal require permanent implants or are only effective close to the skin, and those that rely on drugs can be slow to switch on and off.
The new system, dubbed radiogenetics, uses a signal, in this case low-frequency radio waves or a magnetic field, to heat or move ferritin particles. They, in turn, prompt the opening of TRPV1, which is situated in the membrane surrounding the cell. Calcium ions then travel through the channel, switching on a synthetic piece of DNA the scientists developed to turn on the production of a downstream gene, which in this study was the insulin gene.
In an earlier study, the researchers used only radio waves as the on signal, but in the current study, they also tested out a related signal a magnetic field to activate insulin production. They found it had a similar effect as the radio waves.
The use of a radiofrequency-driven magnetic field is a big advance in remote gene expression because it is non-invasive and easily adaptable, says Dordick, who is Howard P. Isermann Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and vice president of research at Rensselaer. You dont have to insert anything no wires, no light systems the genes are introduced through gene therapy. You could have a wearable device that provides a magnetic field to certain parts of the body and it might be used therapeutically for many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Its limitless at this point.
The choice to look at insulin production was driven by the equipment they used to generate the radio waves and magnetic fields. Because the coil that generates these signals is currently small i.e; only three centimeters in diameter, it was necessary to anesthetize the mice to keep them still. Since anesthesia can repress the production of insulin, the hormone that reduces blood sugar, Stanley and her colleagues designed the genetically encoded system to replace the insulin that is normally reduced by anesthesia in mice.
Read the original here:
'Radiogenetics' Seeks to Remotely Control Cells and Genes
- Is there an alternative to radiation - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Taiwan exploring how nanotech affects health - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- A new way of treating cancer on the way? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Lasers can destroy cancer cells - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Fluorescent molecules can be biomarkers - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Quick blood tests by using a nanodevice - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Where will medicine be 20 years from now - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- History of nanotechnology - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Nanotech and Cancer - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Nanotechnology in medicine - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- How does cancer start - January 25th, 2010 [January 25th, 2010]
- Lung cancer symptoms - January 26th, 2010 [January 26th, 2010]
- Signs of breast cancer - January 27th, 2010 [January 27th, 2010]
- Famous people with cancer - January 29th, 2010 [January 29th, 2010]
- Metastatic renal cancer - January 30th, 2010 [January 30th, 2010]
- What causes skin cancer - January 31st, 2010 [January 31st, 2010]
- How many people die from cancer each year - February 1st, 2010 [February 1st, 2010]
- How much money is spent on cancer research - February 2nd, 2010 [February 2nd, 2010]
- Colon cancer warning signs - February 4th, 2010 [February 4th, 2010]
- Prostate cancer symptoms - February 4th, 2010 [February 4th, 2010]
- Nano-devices that cross blood-brain barrier open door to treatment of cerebral palsy - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Nano-devices that cross blood-brain barrier open door to treatment of cerebral palsy, other neurologic disorders - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Nanomaterial properties in complement activation: lessons from nanomedicine - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- OMICS Group :: International Conference and Exhibition on Nanotechnology - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Use of Nanotechnology in Medicine [FOX 11-27-2011] - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Cancer Nanomedicine - Detection - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Cancer Nanomedicine - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- HBIO Reports First Quarter 2012 Revenue Growth of 8% Over First Quarter 2011 - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Nano science, focus of Education Ministry - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- Drug-resistant Bacteria - Designing Nanoparticles For High Antibiotic Doses - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- Research and Markets: Global Market for Nano Silver - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Cracking study makes nanotech breakthrough - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Nanoparticles may pose environmental threat - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Global Nanobiotechnology Industry - May 17th, 2012 [May 17th, 2012]
- 'Inability to give back Singur land my biggest regret' - May 20th, 2012 [May 20th, 2012]
- 'KOREA PACK 2012' for Packing process industry to be held at KINTEX - May 23rd, 2012 [May 23rd, 2012]
- New ISO Technical Report Guides Characterization of Nanomaterials in Toxicology - May 29th, 2012 [May 29th, 2012]
- DNA strands create tiniest Smileys - May 30th, 2012 [May 30th, 2012]
- Health and fitness agenda: Evolution Asia Yoga Conference - June 2nd, 2012 [June 2nd, 2012]
- UC Davis work in humanities receives $150,000 in UC-wide grants - June 2nd, 2012 [June 2nd, 2012]
- Computer-designed proteins 'may help fight variety of flu viruses' - June 3rd, 2012 [June 3rd, 2012]
- 'Nano technology' [program can pay off big for IRSC students - June 3rd, 2012 [June 3rd, 2012]
- Computer-designed proteins programmed to disarm variety of flu viruses - June 3rd, 2012 [June 3rd, 2012]
- Jugaad innovators don't plan - they improvise - June 6th, 2012 [June 6th, 2012]
- Health and fitness agenda: World Blood Donor Day - June 9th, 2012 [June 9th, 2012]
- OMICS Group :: Journal of Nanomedicine - June 9th, 2012 [June 9th, 2012]
- Researchers develop a 'time bomb' to fight cardiovascular disease - June 10th, 2012 [June 10th, 2012]
- Nanotechnologists develop a 'time bomb' to fight cardiovascular disease - June 10th, 2012 [June 10th, 2012]
- 'Time bomb' to fight cardiovascular disease developed - June 11th, 2012 [June 11th, 2012]
- Asia's First Graphene Nano-Tech Facility Opens In Singapore - June 13th, 2012 [June 13th, 2012]
- How worms are pioneering remote control medicine - June 13th, 2012 [June 13th, 2012]
- Golden Helix Establishes Direct Presence in Japan - June 13th, 2012 [June 13th, 2012]
- STDs Blocked by Nano Gel, Study Suggests - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- Real Products, Different Results - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- The Puridone Program - A Breakthrough for Painkiller Addiction - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- Six startup medical device firms compete in Memphis for fame and fortune - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- International Nanomedicine Conference bound for Sydney: July 2-4, 2012 - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Taming light with graphene - June 21st, 2012 [June 21st, 2012]
- Today on New Scientist: 25 June 2012 - June 26th, 2012 [June 26th, 2012]
- A step towards the future - July 1st, 2012 [July 1st, 2012]
- Genia Technologies Collaborates with Professors Jingyue Ju at Columbia and George Church at Harvard to Develop a ... - October 4th, 2012 [October 4th, 2012]
- Scientists Invited To Submit Proposals For Biological Research In Space - October 4th, 2012 [October 4th, 2012]
- Research and Markets: Micro-Nano Technology XIII from the 13th Annual Conference of Chinese Society of Micro-Nano ... - October 6th, 2012 [October 6th, 2012]
- $80M research facility to open at UMass Lowell - October 6th, 2012 [October 6th, 2012]
- Nano-revolution in drugs delivery - October 8th, 2012 [October 8th, 2012]
- SENAI/SESI of Sao Paulo Selects NanoProfessor as Foundation for "Nanomundo" Nanotechnology Education Initiative - October 8th, 2012 [October 8th, 2012]
- Delivering an integral approach to emotional and mental health - October 9th, 2012 [October 9th, 2012]
- NanoGuardian's On-Dose NanoEncryption Brand Protection Technology to Be Presented at AAPS Annual Meeting - October 11th, 2012 [October 11th, 2012]
- Il Nano Mondo del professor Ennio Tasciotti - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Deakin University - Practical Science - Nano medicine - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- 2012 Deakin University 3 Minute Thesis Finalist - Jarrad Altimari - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Nano Medicine from "Development of Nanotechnology in Hong Kong" - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- NANO Medicine 1 3 xvid - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Nanolääke // Nano medicine - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- NANO Medicine (1-3) - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Jefferson County, Colorado's Bioscience Industry - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- NanoMission - Nanomedicine NanoBot - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Study aims to unlock mysteries of autism - November 20th, 2012 [November 20th, 2012]
- Catherine Griwkowsky - November 22nd, 2012 [November 22nd, 2012]
- Kulkarni to be feted at Bangalore Nano 2012 - November 26th, 2012 [November 26th, 2012]