Aim: Rapid and efficient magnetization of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) through functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNP).
Methods: MNP were functionalized with poly(epsilon-lysine) dendrons exposing carboxybetaine residue (CB-MNP) to enhance binding to the cellular glycocalix. BMSC were incubated with CB-MNP or non-functionalized PAA-MNP for 5-30 min in suspension.
Results: CB-MNP functionalization increased the magnetization efficiency by threefold. Remarkably, 66% of cells were magnetized after only 5 min and the maximum efficiency of >80% was reached by 15 min. BMSC viability, proliferation and differentiation were not impaired: actually, adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation were even improved.
Conclusion: Carboxybetaine-dendron functionalization ensured rapid and efficient BMSC magnetization and allowed innovative suspension labeling, with a potential for bypassing adhesion culture of progenitors for regenerative medicine.
Keywords: adipogenesis; carboxybetaine; dendrimers; magnetization; nanoparticles; osteogenesis; stem cells; suspension culture.