ABSTRACT
Biomolecule-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles can be targeted to specific cell-surface receptors and then those receptors remotely activated by transducing forces or energy from a remote, external magnetic field. This remote control of receptor activity has numerous applications, such as the direct mechanical activation of stretch-activated ion channels, extracellular matrix binding proteins, surface kinases, and G-protein coupled receptors, while the ability to control the movement of a weakly interacting ligand allows for a switchable regulation of the interface, and thus receptor activation.
