Curing diseases at a distance
Professor Alicia El Haj is Interdisciplinary Chair of Cell Engineering at the Healthcare Technologies Institute and Director of the Institute of Translational Medicine. She uses magnetic nanoparticles for tissue engineering applications, such as regenerating new growth of degenerated tissues.
How did you end up working in this field?
I’ve always been interested in the way that our tissues grow and repair. This led me to investi- gate how we can develop strategies to effec- tively repair tissues, or grow them if they’ve been damaged or diseased. That covers many tissues in the body, but my background is in orthopaedics (bones and muscles). I was very interested in the way we could grow tissues outside the body using stem cells and other materials in a controlled way to repair damage.
How are magnetic nanoparticles being used to guide tissue regeneration?
Magnetic nanoparticles are tiny iron-based particles, specially coated to interact safely with cells in the body. We attach them to, for instance, receptors on stem cells, allowing us to guide those cells using external magnetic fields. This lets us control both the location and activity of the cells—effectively instructing them when and where to start repairing tissue. The goal is to deliver regenerative therapies inside the body, avoiding the need for open surgery or complex scaffolds.
What kinds of medical applications are being explored with this technique?
We’ve primarily targeted orthopaedic con- ditions—like cartilage degradation and bone injuries—where we can use magnetic fields to stimulate cell-based repair at the injury site. Animal studies in rodents and sheep have demonstrated successful bone regeneration, and we’re now working with industry partners through a spin-out company to push this closer to clinical translation. The same concept could also extend to tendon repair, nerve regenera- tion, and even targeting cancer therapies.
What are the main challenges in bringing this technology into the clinic?
One of the biggest challenges is ensuring precise and reproducible magnetic control deep within the body. While the materials are based on established biocompatible com- pounds used in imaging, we need to rigor- ously demonstrate long-term safety, espe- cially in complex tissues. We’re also working on standardising the delivery systems—like wearable magnetic devices or custom-print- ed supports—to make the treatment scalableand practical in clinical settings. Patience acceptance is another challenge for which we campaign at exhibitions to encourage patients’ and clinicians’ acceptance of magnetic nano- particles as a safe therapeutic solution.
What’s the broader potential for magnetic nanoparticle platforms in medicine?
This approach offers a modular and minimally invasive way to direct biological processes in the body. It opens up the possibility of re- mote-controlled therapies—not just for ortho- paedics but for immunotherapy, cell targeting, and smart drug delivery. It also fits within a wider vision of personalised and localised medicine, where we can activate treatments precisely when and where needed. The science is still evolving, but the platform is highly ad- aptable and already showing clinical promise.
Magnetic Nanoparticles used in biomedical research are small particles typically ranging from 20 nm to 2 μm in size. They consist of a magnetic core coated with a biocompatible material (e.g., silica), onto which biological molecules are attached at the outer surface. These structures enable targeted delivery, imaging, and activation in biological systems.
Animal studies in rodents and sheep have demonstrated successful bone regeneration, and we’re now working with industry partners through a spin-out company to push this closer to clinical translation.
