Magnetic activated cell sorting has demonstrated extreme utility for isolating virtually all cell types from complex biomedical samples and cultured cells. Antigens (cell-surface proteins) provide the extracellular characteristics for enriching heterogeneous cell-mixtures typical of magnetic cell sorting. Attachment of target-specific antibodies to beads' surfaces generates sorting, securing intact cells to allow isolation within a complex liquid suspension.
Cell sorting is widely used in research and clinical therapy. The latest advances in stem cell therapy, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine show the potential of cells derived from different tissues. Sorting cells from a heterogeneous population enables the study of the different isolated types, but also allows for the introduction of enriched cell populations to a patient. The use of highly selective separation procedures is also critical to improve cell-based treatments on stem cell therapy, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Magnetic nanoparticles form the basis for capturing and separating molecules from a sample solution. The particles act as carriers, sequestering target molecules via attachment sites present on their surface, and shuttling them in the direction of an induced magnetic force. The attachment sites are customizable, endowing the particles with specificity and allowing them to be effective for a wide range of applications ranging from investigative to technological and biomedical.
MEDICA is here! Unfortunately, we will not be able to attend this year as our senior technical-sales team is engaged with large projects overseas this quarter (Bryan in North America and Lluis in Japan). But don’t worry!If you want to see SEPMAG, our advanced biomagnetic systems will be available at different stands, displayed by manufacturers who will be utilizing it to demonstrate the performance of their magnetic beads.
A recent study published in “ACS Synthetic Biology” utilizes magnetic nanoparticles to facilitate gene therapy in tumor cells. The approach combines two effective cancer treatments – hyperthermia and gene therapy – to develop a remotely controlled magnetic switch capable of inducing gene expression. The result is significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo.
As part of their effort to disseminate knowledge on biomagnetic separation, SEPMAG publishes eBooks and documents about the subject. Prepared by internal and external experts, these materials are available for free to the scientific and industrial Life Science community.
Cell separation improves understanding of cell function, generating discoveries for improved medical practice and research. Yet, experimental procedures for removing cells from their natural environment can adversely affect their function and expressed physical traits - morphology, or biochemical/physiological properties. Thus, separation processes appropriate to the biomedical or related task at hand are required to assure optimum process efficacy. Magnetic bead cell separation efficiently utilizes the principle of the attractive power of magnetic force on selected particles in liquid solution.
Earlier last week, Google revealed details regarding its most recent biomedical technology project: magnetic nanoparticles capable of providing advanced warning of impending disease. The announcement was made by Andrew Conrad, a member of Google’s special projects division, Google X. Conrad, who heads Google X’s Life Science team, reported that the company is developing nanoparticles capable of monitoring an individual for early signs of impairment, such as cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
Biomolecules circulating within an organism can be likened to a data stream, providing valuable information that can be accessed to identify disease states and processes such as inflammation. Recent studies have focused on developing autonomous devices for this purpose, incorporating biologically derived molecules such as DNA into computing structures capable of analyzing biomolecular input and carrying out logic-gated functions such as cellular analysis and molecule delivery. Magnetic nanoparticles possess inherent properties that make them well suited for such applications.
Magnetic beads demonstrate many biomedical applications for treatment and research. Their number and range is increasing as understanding and adaptation of the technology for medical purposes grows.
