Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (4): 827-838.doi: 10.12307/2024.811

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Magnetic nanomaterials and magnetic field effects accelerate bone injury repair

Xiao Fang1, Huang Lei1, Wang Lin1, 2   

  1. 1Research Center of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2023-11-16 Accepted:2024-01-26 Online:2025-02-08 Published:2024-06-03
  • Contact: Wang Lin, Professor, Research Center of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
  • About author:Xiao Fang, Maser candidate, Research Center of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Magnetic nanomaterials have biological activities such as promoting osteogenic differentiation of stem cells and inhibiting osteoclast formation, and can effectively promote the healing of injured bone tissue under the synergistic effect of magnetic fields. They have a very broad application prospect in bone injury repair. 
OBJECTIVE: To review the mechanism of magnetic nanomaterials and magnetic fields promoting bone repair, as well as their research progress in the field of bone injury repair.

METHODS: Relevant literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science databases with the search terms “magnetic nanomaterials, magnetic field, bone repair, bone tissue engineering, stem cell, osteoblast, osteoclast.” The time limit of literature search was from 2003 to 2023, which was screened and analyzed. Some classic articles were manually retrieved, and 98 articles were finally included for analysis.  

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Magnetic nanomaterials have biological effects such as promoting osteoblast differentiation, inhibiting osteoclast formation and regulating the immune microenvironment. In addition, magnetic nanomaterials can regulate the physicochemical properties of tissue engineering scaffolds, such as mechanical properties and surface morphology, and endowed with magnetic properties, which is conducive to the regulation of the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. (2) The magnetic field has the ability to regulate multiple cell signaling pathways to promote osteoblast differentiation, inhibit osteoclast formation, stimulate angiogenesis and other biological effects, thus accelerating the healing of damaged bone tissue. (3) The joint application of magnetic nanomaterials and magnetic field accelerates the repair of bone damage by activating mechanotransduction, increasing the content of intracellular magnetic nanoparticles, and enhancing the effect of micro-magnetic field, which provides a new idea for the research of bone tissue engineering. (4) Magnetic field has demonstrated definite efficacy in the treatment of clinical fractures, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis diseases, which is beneficial for bone tissue growth, reducing bone loss, alleviating pain, and improving the quality of life of patients. (5) Magnetic nanomaterials and magnetic fields have great potential for application in bone damage repair and regeneration, but the interaction mechanism between magnetic nanomaterials, magnetic fields, and cells has not been fully elucidated. Moreover, the key parameters of magnetic fields that regulate intracellular molecular events, including the type, intensity, frequency, duration, and mode of the magnetic field, as well as the precise biological effects of a specific magnetic field on osteoblasts and the underlying mechanisms, have yet to be defined. (6) Further attention needs to be paid to the effects on osteoclasts, nerves, blood vessels, and immune cells in the microenvironment of damaged tissues. Finally, the safety of magnetic materials for human use is yet to be systematically studied in terms of their distribution, metabolism, and acute and chronic toxicities.

Key words: magnetic nanomaterial, magnetic field, bone repair, bone tissue engineering, stem cell, osteoblast, osteoclast

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