Figure 12.

Schematic of the magnetofection principle. Under the effect of a magnetic field, functionalized IONs are guided directly to target cells. This generates an increase in the vector availability at the cell surfaces that leads to an increase in cellular uptake. Endosomal escape occurs by the action of the specific molecules used to functionalize IONs. High transfection rates can be achieved: More nucleic acids loaded IONs into the cytoplasm leads to an increase of free nucleic acids generating more efficient transfection rates. (Created with BioRender.com).