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Wireless nanotechnologies light up the next frontier in cell Calcium signalling

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Abstract

Calcium ions impact nearly every aspect of cellular life, playing crucial roles as secondary messengers in regulation of neurotransmission, cell proliferation, migration and differentiation processes, intracellular homeostasis, long-distance signal propagation and stimuli physiological response. Despite its key-role, available techniques to study and selectively regulate Ca2+ signalling largely rely on chemical and electrical approaches, which often cannot ensure the necessary spatial and temporal resolution, specificity, modulation and reversal capability. In this context, Ca2+ modulation based on physical stimuli, such as magnetic, mechanical and optical tools, are emerging ass promising innovative solutions. Here, we focus our attention on a subclass of these approaches, namely wireless-activated techniques, and on functional materials able to act as non-invasive transduction elements. We present an overview of most recent outcomes in the field, and we critically evaluate their advantages and drawbacks. This work is mainly directed to the material science community, but hopefully it will provide a useful perspective also to the broader readership of biotechnologists, physiologists and clinicians.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Ilaria Abdel Aziz & Maria Rosa Antognazza

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. Da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Ilaria Abdel Aziz

Authors
  1. Ilaria Abdel Aziz
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  2. Maria Rosa Antognazza
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Correspondence to Ilaria Abdel Aziz.

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Aziz, I.A., Antognazza, M.R. Wireless nanotechnologies light up the next frontier in cell Calcium signalling. MRS Advances 5, 3473–3489 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2020.348

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2020.348

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