Nanocatalysts that remotely control chemical reactions inside living
cells

Date:
August 10, 2020
Source:
Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
Summary:
The enzymes responsible for catalytic reactions in our body's
biological reactions are difficult to use for diagnosis or
treatment as they react only to certain molecules or have low
stability. Many researchers anticipate that if these issues are
ameliorated or if artificial catalysts are developed to create
a synergetic effect by meeting the enzymes in the body, there
will be new ways to diagnose and treat diseases. In particular,
if artificial catalysts that respond to external stimuli such as
magnetic fields are developed, new treatment methods that remotely
control bioreactions from outside the body can become a reality.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The enzymes responsible for catalytic reactions in our body's biological reactions are difficult to use for diagnosis or treatment as they
react only to certain molecules or have low stability. Many researchers anticipate that if these issues are ameliorated or if artificial catalysts
are developed to create a synergetic effect by meeting the enzymes
in the body, there will be new ways to diagnose and treat diseases. In particular, if artificial catalysts that respond to external stimuli such
as magnetic fields are developed, new treatment methods that remotely
control bioreactions from outside the body can become a reality.


==========================================================================
The research team led by Professor In Su Lee of the Department of
Chemistry at POSTECH has developed a remote magnetic-sensitive artificial catalyst called MAG-NER, which shows high catalytic efficiency within
living cells. The study was published as the supplementary cover paper
for Nano Letters, an international journal on nanotechnology.

The research team mimicked the structure of vesicles, an organelle
within a cell, and synthesized a magnetic-catalyst-combined nanoreactor
with iron-oxide nanoparticles and palladium catalysts inside a hollow
silica nanoshell.

When MAG-NER encounters an alternating magnetic field, iron-oxide
nanoparticles inside cause magnetic field-induced heat and activate only
the palladium catalyst without raising the exterior temperature. The
research team succeeded in implementing the catalytic reaction with high efficiency, which transforms non-fluorescent reactants into fluorescent products through implanting MAG-NER into living cells then applying
alternating magnetic fields. The research team also confirmed that the
catalyst of MAG-NER can remain active for long periods of time without
being contaminated by biomolecules in cells and does not affect the
cells' survival.

Using MAG-NER, it is anticipated that diagnosis and treatment methods,
that can artificially remote control the cell's functions, can be
developed as artificial molecules can be synthesized or chemical reactions
can be induced within cells using magnetic fields that are harmless to
the body.

Professor In Su Lee who led the research explained, "This research
is a result of utilizing the hallow nanoreactor materials that our
lab has been developing over the years and is valued as an innovative
chemical tool that will advance biomedical and biological research."
This research was conducted with the support from the National Research Foundation's Research Leader Program (Creative Research).


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Pohang_University_of_Science_&_Technology_(POSTECH).

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jihwan Lee, Sateesh Dubbu, Nitee Kumari, Amit Kumar, Jongwon Lim,
Seonock
Kim, In Su Lee. Magnetothermia-Induced Catalytic Hollow Nanoreactor
for Bioorthogonal Organic Synthesis in Living Cells. Nano Letters,
2020; DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c01507 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200810103308.htm

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