Nanoparticle-cell interface enables electromagnetic wireless programming of mammalian transgene expression

Recent technological advances are fueling the development of cutting-edge technologies that can monitor and control physiological processes with high precision. These include devices that could control the expression of genes within living organisms, without requiring invasive surgeries or procedures.

Researchers at ETH Zurich recently introduced a new method that enables the electromagnetic programming of the wireless expression regulation (EMPOWER) of transgenes in mammals, via the interfacing of nanoparticles and cells.

The method they introduced in their paper relies on nanoparticles made of multiferroic materials, which were coated with a biocompatible polymer called chitosan.

"When these nanoparticles are stimulated by a low-frequency magnetic field, they generate biosafe levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the cell cytoplasm," explained Martin Fussenegger.

"We engineered mammalian cells to include a genetic circuit that's sensitive to these ROS signals, using the cellular KEAP1/NRF2 pathway. When ROS are detected, it's like a signal to NRF2 proteins to get busy, and they work together to bring selected therapeutic proteins, like insulin, to life."

Image source: Lin et al. (2025), Nature Nanotechnology.