A review on Simulated Microgravity with Magnetic Levitation in Plant Research: experimental design and cellular responses

Document Type : reviewed article

Author
Aerospace Research Institute, Ministry of Science Research and Technology, Tehran
Abstract
Studying the microgravity effect on biological samples requires biological experiments using flight facilities such as space shuttle, biological satellites, and the International Space Station, but biological studies in space are expensive and rare, and requires simulation techniques on the ground. Therefore, ground facilities such as two-dimensional clinostat, random position machine, and magnetic levitation are used to create simulated microgravity. The biological sample is suspended under a high gradient magnetic field and simulated microgravity is applied. Using this method, environments with low or high gravity can be created and the effect of magnetic field and microgravity can be investigated on biological samples. This technique has many advantages compared to other methods for achieving microgravity, including unlimited testing time and fast achievement of microgravity. Also, by changing the intensity of magnetic field, it is possible to simulate gravity on the surface of the moon or Mars. In this research, different types of magnetic levitation using electromagnetic field and magnet and the challenges of designing biological experiments will be investigated. Also, the gene and proteomic responses under magnetic levitation and the mechanism of cell growth through different phases of the cell cycle will be studied.
Keywords
Subjects

[1] M. Babbick, C. Dijkstra, O.J. Larkin, P. Anthony, M.R. Davey, J. B. Power, K. C. Lowe, M. Cogoli-Greuter, R. Hampp, “Expression of transcription factors after short-term exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana cell cultures to hypergravity and simulated microgravity (2-D/3-D clinorotation, magnetic levitation),” Adv Space Res, 2007, vol. 39, pp. 1182-1189, 2007.
[2] R. Herranz, R. Anken, J. Boonstra, M. Braun, P.C.M. Christianen, M.D. Geest, J. Hauslage, R. Hilbig, R.J.A. Hill, M. Lebert, F.J. Medina, "Ground-based facilities for simulation of microgravity, including terminology and organism-specific recommendations for their use." Astrobiology, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1-17, 2013. 
[3] A. Mittelholz, C.L. Johnson, “The martian crustal magnetic field,” Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, vol. 9, pp. 895362, 2022.
[4] R. Weissleder, A. Moore, U. Mahmood, R. Bhorade, H. Benveniste, E.A. Chiocca, J.P. Basilion, “In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of transgene expression,” Nat Med, vol. 6, pp. 351–5, 2000.
[5] P.M. Glover, I. Cavin, W. Qian, R. Bowtell, P.A. Gowland, “Magnetic-field-induced vertigo: a theoretical and experimental investigation,” Bioelectromagnetics, vol. 28, pp. 349–61, 2007.
[6] R. Herranz, O.J. Larkin, C.E. Dijkstra, R.J. Hill, P. Anthony, M.R. Davey, L. Eaves, J.J.W.A. van Loon, F.J. Medina, R. Marco, “Microgravity simulation by diamagnetic levitation: effects of a strong gradient magnetic field on the transcriptional profile of Drosophila melanogaster,” BMC Genomics, vol. 13, pp. 52, 2012.
[7] A.L. Manzano, J.J. van Loon, P.C. Christianen, J.M. Gonzalez-Rubio, F.J. Medina, R. Herranz, “Gravitational and magnetic field variations synergize to cause subtle variations in the global transcriptional state of Arabidopsis in vitro callus cultures,” BMC genomics, vol. 13, pp.1-3, 2012. 
[8] A.B. Subramaniam, D. Yang, H.D. Yu, A. Nemiroski, S. Tricard, A.K. Ellerbee, S. Soh, G.M. Whitesides, “Noncontact orientation of objects in three-dimensional space using magnetic levitation,” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 111 no. 36, pp. 12980-5, 2014.
[9] W. Zhao, T. Zhu, R. Cheng, Y.  Liu, J. He, H. Qiu, H, L. Wang, T. Nagy, T.D. Querec, E.R. Unger, L. Mao, “Label-Free and Continuous-Flow Ferrohydrodynamic Separation of HeLa Cells and Blood Cells in Biocompatible Ferrofluids,” Adv Funct Mater, vol. 26, no. 22, pp. 3990-3998, 2016.
[10] J.M. Valles, H.J. Maris, G.M. Seidel, J. Tang, W. Yao, “Magnetic levitation-based martian and lunar gravity simulator,” Adv Space Res, vol. 36, pp. 114–118, 2005.
[11] M. Martzivanou, R. Hampp, "Hyper‐gravity effects on the Arabidopsis transcriptome," Physiologia Plantarum vol. 118, no. 2, 2003, pp. 221-231.
[12] R. Herranz, M.A. Valbuena, A. Manzano, Y.K. Kamal, F.J. Medina, “Use of microgravity simulators for plant biological studies,” Plant Gravitropism: Methods and Protocols, pp. 239-254, Springer, 2015.
[13] A.I. Manzano, O.J. Larkin, C.E. Dijkstra, P. Anthony, M.R. Davey, L. Eaves, Hill, R.J. R. Herranz, F.J. Medina, “Meristematic cell proliferation and ribosome biogenesis are decoupled in diamagnetically levitated Arabidopsis seedlings,” BMC plant biology, vol. 13, pp. 1-15, 2013.
[14] J.G. Kiss, G.I. Garab, Z.M. Tóth, A. Faludi-Dániel, “The light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein acts as a torque aligning chloroplasts in a magnetic field,” Photosynth Res, vol. 10, pp. 217-222, 1986.
[15] J.T. Caleffi, M.C. Aal, H.D. Gallindo, G.H. Caxali, B.P. Crulhas, A.O. Ribeiro, G.R. Souza, F.K. Delella, “Magnetic 3D cell culture: State of the art and current advances”. Life Sciences, vol. 286, pp. 120028, 2021.
[16] U. Tepe, B. Aslanbay Guler, E. Imamoglu, “Applications and sensory utilizations of magnetic levitation in 3D cell culture for tissue Engineering,” Molecular Biology Reports, vol. 50(8), pp. 7017-25, 2023.
[17] M.A. Abakumov, A.S. Semkina, A.S. Skorikov, D.A. Vishnevskiy, A.V. Ivanova, E. Mironova, G.A.  Davydova, A.G. Majouga, V.P. Chekhonin, “Toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles: Size and coating effects,” Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology, vol. 32(12), pp. e22225, 2018.
[18] H. Hassanpour, Establishment of Physalis alkekengi cell suspension culture: time-dependent behavior of genes related to the steroidal compounds, key enzymes, and physalins under static magnetic field. Protoplasma, pp. 1-14, 2024.
[19] M. Martzivanou, M. Babbick, M. Cogoli-Greuter, R. Hampp, “Microgravity-related changes in gene expression after short-term exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana cell cultures,” Protoplasma , vol. 229, pp. 155-162, 2016.
[20] F. Darigh, A. Iranbakhsh, Z.O. Ardebili, M. Ebadi, H. Hassanpour, “Simulated microgravity contributed to modification of callogenesis performance and secondary metabolite production in Cannabis Indica,” Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, vol. 186, pp. 157-68, 2022. 
[21] K.Y. Kamal, R. Herranz, J.J. van Loon, P.C. Christianen, F.J. Medina, “Evaluation of simulated microgravity environments induced by diamagnetic levitation of plant cell suspension cultures,” Microgravity Science and Technology, vol.28, pp. 309-17, 2016.
[22] N.S. Lewis, E.E Lewis, M. Mullin, H. Wheadon, M.J. Dalby, C.C. Berry, “Magnetically levitated mesenchymal stem cell spheroids cultured with a collagen gel maintain phenotype and quiescence,” Journal of tissue engineering, vol. 8, PMID. 28616152, 2017.
[23] H. Hassanpour, V. Niknam, “Establishment and assessment of cell suspension cultures of Matricaria chamomilla as a possible source of apigenin under static magnetic field,” Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), vol. 142, pp. 583-93, 2020.
[24] T. Nyström, “Stationary-phase physiology,” Annu Rev Microbiol., vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 161-181, 2004. 
Volume 4, Issue 2
March 2025
Pages 127-134

  • Receive Date 10 August 2024
  • Revise Date 23 October 2024
  • Accept Date 07 January 2025