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1. Effects of Martian magnetic and gravitational fields across multiple generations of the nematode C. elegans

   https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.18.619154  

   Akinosho, Aalimah; Benefield, Zachary; Fritz, Allison; Stein, Wolfgang; Vidal-Gadea, Andres G (October 2024, bioRxiv)

   Life on Earth evolved under a specific set of environmental conditions, including consistent gravitational and magnetic fields. However, planned human missions to Mars in the coming decades will expose terrestrial organisms to radically different conditions, with Martian gravity being approximately 38% of Earth's and a significantly reduced magnetic field. Understanding the combined effects of these factors is crucial, as they may impact biological systems that evolved under different conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of simulated Martian gravity and hypomagnetic fields on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans across six generations. We used an integrated experimental setup consisting of clinostats to mimic the reduced Martian gravity, and Merritt coil magnetic cages to model the decreased Martian magnetic fields. We assessed behavioral, morphological, and physiological responses of C. elegans. High-throughput automated assays revealed significant reductions in motor output and morphological dimensions for animals in the Mars treatment compared to matched earth-like controls. We assessed neurological function by means of chemotaxis assays and found a progressive decline in performance for worms raised under the Martian paradigm compared to Earth controls. Our results show that worms grown under Martian-like conditions exhibit progressive physiological alterations across generations, suggesting that the unique environment of Mars might pose challenges to biological function and adaptation. These findings contribute to understanding how living organisms may respond to the combined effects of reduced gravity and hypomagnetic fields, providing insights relevant for future human exploration and potential colonization of Mars. 

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2. Magnetic bio-hybrid micro actuators

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d2nr00152g  

   Quashie, David; Benhal, Prateek; Chen, Zhi; Wang, Zihan; Mu, Xueliang; Song, Xiaoxia; Jiang, Teng; Zhong, Yukun; Cheang, U Kei; Ali, Jamel (March 2022, Nanoscale)

   Over the past two decades, there has been a growing body of work on wireless devices that can operate on the length scales of biological cells and even smaller. A class of these devices receiving increasing attention are referred to as bio-hybrid actuators: tools that integrate biological cells or subcellular parts with synthetic or inorganic components. These devices are commonly controlled through magnetic manipulation as magnetic fields and gradients can be generated with a high level of control. Recent work has demonstrated that magnetic bio-hybrid actuators can address common challenges in small scale fabrication, control, and localization. Additionally, it is becoming apparent that these magnetically driven bio-hybrid devices can display high efficiency and, in many cases, have the potential for self-repair and even self-replication. Combining these properties with magnetically driven forces and torques, which can be transmitted over significant distances, can be highly controlled, and are biologically safe, gives magnetic bio-hybrid actuators significant advantages over other classes of small scale actuators. In this review, we describe the theory and mechanisms required for magnetic actuation, classify bio-hybrid actuators by their diverse organic components, and discuss their current limitations. Insights into the future of coupling cells and cell-derived components with magnetic materials to fabricate multi-functional actuators are also provided. 

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3. Bioinspired materials from extrinsically-controlled fabrication techniques

   Naleway, S.E.; Porter, D.L.; Fernquist, J.; Yin, T.J.; Alexander, J.; Mroz, M. (February 2022, The materials society annual meeting, Anaheim, CA, USA, February 2022)

   Bioinspired fabrication techniques that are able to mimic the structure and properties of biological materials are of interest to a wide range of scientific and engineering fields. We propose that these bioinspired techniques can be controlled through either intrinsic (those that modify from within by altering the constituents) or extrinsic (those that apply external forces or templates) means. Through these classifications, examples of extrinsic (through energized magnetic and ultrasound external fields) freeze cast, aerogel, and FDM printed structures will be discussed with a focus on providing advanced control of the final material structure and properties. Applications in biomedical and filtration technologies will be discussed. 

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4. Extrinsic control of advanced manufacturing techniques for bioinspired materials

   Naleway, S.E.; Porter, D.L.; Fernquist, J.; Yin, T.J.; Schmitz, M.; Hotz, E.; Alexander, J.; Mroz, M. (January 2022, International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites 2022, January 23-28, 2022Daytona Beach, FL)

   Bioinspired fabrication techniques that are able to mimic the structure and properties of biological materials are of interest to a wide range of scientific and engineering fields. We propose that these bioinspired techniques can be controlled through either intrinsic (those that modify from within by altering the constituents) or extrinsic (those that apply external forces or templates) means. Through these classifications, examples of extrinsic (through energized magnetic and ultrasound external fields) freeze cast, aerogel, and FDM printed structures will be discussed with a focus on providing advanced control of the final material structure and properties. Applications in biomedical and defense applications will be discussed. 

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5. Selective imaging of diamond nanoparticles within complex matrices using magnetically induced fluorescence contrast

   https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EN01008D  

   Jones, Zachary R.; Niemuth, Nicholas J.; Robinson, Margaret E.; Shenderova, Olga A.; Klaper, Rebecca D.; Hamers, Robert J. (February 2020, Environmental Science: Nano)

   The use of fluorescence microscopy to study fate and transport of nanoparticles in the environment can be limited by the presence of confounding background signals such as autofluorescence and scattered light. The unique spin-related luminescence properties of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond nanoparticles (NVND) enable new types of imaging modalities such as selective imaging of nanoparticles in the presence of background fluorescence. These techniques make use of the fact that the spin properties, which affect the fluorescence of NV centers, can be modulated using applied magnetic or radio-frequency fields. This work presents the use magnetic fields to modulate the fluorescence of NVND for background-subtracted imaging of nanoparticles ingested by a model organism, C. elegans . With the addition of modest time-modulated magnetic fields from an inexpensive “hobby” electromagnet, the fluorescence of 40 nm NVND can be modulated by 10% in a widefield imaging configuration. Herein, differential magnetic imaging is used to image and to isolate the fluorescence arising from nanodiamond within the gut of the organism C. elegans . This method represents a promising approach to probing the uptake of nanoparticles by organisms and to assessing the movement and interactions of nanoparticles in biological systems. 

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