Application of magnetotactic bacteria and magnetosomes in cancer therapy: a review

Abstract:

The targeting of anti-tumor drugs is an important means of tumor treatment and reducing drug side effects. Oxygen-depleted hypoxic regions in the tumour, which oxygen consumption by rapidly proliferative tumour cells, are generally resistant to therapies. Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are disparate array of microorganism united by the ability to biomineralize membrane-encased, single-magnetic-domain magnetic crystals (magnetosomes) of minerals magnetite or greigite. MTB by means of flagella, migrate along geomagnetic field lines and towards low oxygen concentrations. MTB have advantage of non-cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility, moreover magnetosomes (BMs) is more powerful than artificial magnetic nanoparticles(MNPs). This review has generally described the biological and physical properties of MTB and magnetosomes, More work deals with MTB which can be used to transport drug into tumor based on aerotactic sensing system as well as the competition of iron which is a key factor to proliferation of tumor. In addition, we summarized the research of magnetosomes, which be used as natural nanocarriers for chemotherapeutics, antibodies, vaccine DNA. Finally, We analyzed the problems faced in the tumor treatment using of MTB and bacterial magnetosomes and prospect development trends of this kind of therapy.