Piezo1
Mechanosensitive ion channel
Piezo1 is a large mechanosensitive ion channel embedded in the cell membrane that opens in response to mechanical forces such as stretch, pressure, or shear stress. When activated, it forms a non-selective cation pore that allows ions like Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ to flow into the cell, converting physical stimuli into biochemical signals.
In our magnetogenetics platform, we use Piezo1 as a magneto-mechanical “gatekeeper” that converts tiny forces on magnetic nanoparticles into biological signals. By expressing Piezo1 in target cells and applying precisely tuned magnetic fields, we generate nanoscale mechanical stress that opens the channel, drives calcium influx, and activates downstream pathways in a wireless and noninvasive manner.