Jonathan S. Dordick's Talk

Mar 12, 2019 - 16:00

Mar 12, 2019 - 17:00

Room 118 (Creativity Hall), Dept. of Chemical Eng., IIT Bombay

Seminars

Jonathan S. Dordick, Ph.D.,Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 12180 USA

Abstract: In the past several years, there has been considerable experimental evidence that magnetic fields coupled with cellular or cell-associated magnetic nanoparticles can drive the gating (opening) of ion channels in mammalian cells and *in vivo*. This gating can then be used to couple ion entry into the cells with downstream gene expression leading to production of proteins of interest as well as regulation of cell function all in a temporal manner. Moreover, the ability to observe the effects of rapidly and reversibly regulating cell activity in targeted cell populations has provided numerous physiologic insights. A range of technologies have emerged for regulating cellular activity using optical, chemical, and more recently, electromagnetic modalities. In particular, magnetic fields can freely penetrate cells and tissue and their energy can be absorbed by metal particles. Herein, I will discuss our recent advances in using magnetic fields to control gene expression in mammalian cells as well as in animals. We have developed an induction system for alternating magnetic field generation, as well as a permanent magnet system, both capable of controlling magnetic field strength, oscillation frequency, onset rate, and duration of exposure, all of which are relevant to gaining a firm mechanistic understanding of “magnetogenetics.” The use of magnetic fields interacting with genetically encoded nanoparticles has been validated using calcium imaging, reporter expression, and *in vivo*. The *in vitro* studies employed HEK-293T cells expressing an engineered TRPV1 ion channel construct along with a proinsulin gene under the control of Ca2+-sensitive promoter system, as well as externally added 20 nm iron oxide nanoparticles. We have also used HEK-293T cells expressing genetically-encoded ferritin nanoparticles tethered to the ion channel in a TRPV1:EGFP-ferritin construct together with a secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) controlled by a Ca2+-sensitive promoter as a reporter. These studies provide insight into the mechanism(s) of magnetogenetics.Bio-sketch: Jonathan S. Dordick is the Howard P. Isermann Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with joint appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences. He is also the Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Initiatives. Prof. Dordick served as the Vice President for Research from 2012-2018, the Director of Rensselaer’s Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies from 2008-2012, and as Department Chairman of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Rensselaer (1998-2002) and Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Iowa (1995-1998). Prof. Dordick received his B.A. degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry from Brandeis University and his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has held chemical engineering faculty appointments at the University of Iowa (1987-1998), where he also served as the Associate Director of the Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1998-present) where he also holds joint appointments in the departments of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences. Prof. Dordick’s research group includes chemical engineers, bioengineers, materials scientists, biologists, chemists, microbiologists and computational and AI scientists all focused on gaining a quantitative understanding of biological principles and applying them to advance bioengineering and biomanufacturing, stem cell engineering, and drug discovery. Prof. Dordick has received numerous awards, including the Food, Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering Award of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Marvin J. Johnson Award and the Elmer Gaden Award both of the American Chemical Society, the International Enzyme Engineering Award, and an NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award. He is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers. He presently serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards for several biotechnology companies and venture capital firms, and has cofounded several companies, including EnzyMed (now part of Albany Molecular Research, Inc.), Solidus Biosciences, Inc., and RedPin Therapeutics. He has also served on multiple White House-sponsored panels and committees in biomanufacturing. Dr. Dordick has published over 370 papers and is an inventor/co-inventor on over 40 patents and patent applications.