# Tuning the Cell and Biological Tissue Environment through Magneto-Active Materials
## 7 Conclusions  
Mechanics fundamentals, although sometimes disregarded, are the driving force of several biological processes and are present in almost all of them at some instance. Throughout this manuscript, important examples have been reviewed, such as mechanoelectrophysiological couplings in neuronal or brain response, bone healing processes, or cell proliferation and migration. These mechanical dependences open the question on if we may be able to control biological processes by modulating the mechanical environment in which they take place. To be suitable, such a modulation should be remote and reversible. In this regard, novel multifunctional materials that mechanically respond to magnetic stimuli, i.e., magneto-active polymers (MAPs), are ideal candidates. However, despite the great potential of MAPs for biomedical applications, there are still some limitations that prevent their exploitation.  
Due to the nature of the components of magneto-responsive particles, their biological behaviour differs from single polymer scaffolds. The influence of the magnetic particles on these new materials suggest that they are potentially benign and useful in most of the abovementioned biomedical applications [200; 234; 235]. Despite these encouraging results, there are still more studies to be conducted to assess possible toxicity or side effects [236; 237; 238]. Another important aspect to take into consideration when developing a magnetic biomaterial for biomedical purposes is their antibacterial properties regarding the particle size, density and composition [201; 239; 240; 241]. Although biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of magneto-responsive hydrogels have been widely studied, their metabolism, distribution and long-term effect on tissues and organs have not been yet tested in vivo [242].  
Moreover, from the modelling perspective, there is still a significant gap in the knowledge of fully coupled microstructural to macrostructural approaches in magneto-mechanics. In this regard, the overall response of the MAP does not depend only on the microstructural characteristics of the composite but also on structural responses arising from magnetic boundary conditions, fringing effects, presence of external magnetic poles, etc. In addition, the modelling of magneto-mechanical effects on biological processes is still an open question.  
All authors have contributed to the original writing of the article. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This work has been supported by the Madrid Government (Comunidad de Madrid) under the Multiannual Agreement with UC3M in the line of \"Fostering Young Doctors Research\" (BIOMASKIN-CM-UC3M), and in the context of the V PRICIT (Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation, and support from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 947723). DGG acknowledges support from the Talent Attraction grant (CM 2018-2018-T2/IND-9992) from the Comunidad de Madrid.  
Not applicable.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.