The foremost strength of the genetic toolkits used in neuromodulation is that it can provide either spatially or temporally, or both, precise modulation of the brain nervous system.
On the other hand, it involves light stimulation, which cannot penetrate tissues effectively and requires implanted optical devices, limiting its applications for in vivo live animal studies Techniques that rely on the magnetic control of cellular process are relatively new.
To apply magnetogenetics in biological and neuroscientific research, fusing TRPV class receptors with a paramagnetic protein (typically ferritin) was suggested.
In 2010, Arnd Pralle and colleges showed that the first in vivo magneto-thermal stimulation of heat sensitive ion channel TRPV1 that employs magnetic nanoparticles as a transducer in C.
[6] In 2021, Jinwoo Cheon's research group has successfully developed the magneto-mechanical genetics which uses magnetic stimulation derived mechanical force in mammalian.
[8] This was achieved by combining Piezo1 ion channels and Cre-loxP technology, allowing precise, reversible, and wireless control of neuronal activity in freely moving animals.
This torque-based system developed by Cheon is anticipated to be valuable not only for neuroscience research but also for various deep tissue in vivo applications and therapeutics.