Issue 16, 2024

Self-propelling bacteria-based magnetic nanoparticles (BacMags) for targeted magnetic hyperthermia therapy against hypoxic tumors

Abstract

Magnetic hyperthermia-based cancer therapy (MHCT) holds great promise as a non-invasive approach utilizing heat generated by an alternating magnetic field for effective cancer treatment. For an efficacious therapeutic response, it is crucial to deliver therapeutic agents selectively at the depth of tumors. In this study, we present a new strategy using the naturally occurring tumor-colonizing bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a carrier to deliver magnetic nanoparticles to hypoxic tumor cores for effective MHCT. Self-propelling delivery agents, “nano-bacteriomagnets” (BacMags), were developed by incorporating anisotropic magnetic nanocubes into E. coli which demonstrated significantly improved hyperthermic performance, leading to an impressive 85% cell death in pancreatic cancer. The in vivo anti-cancer response was validated in a syngeneic xenograft model with a 50% tumor inhibition rate within 20 days and a complete tumor regression within 30 days. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of utilizing anaerobic bacteria for the delivery of magnetic nanocarriers as a smart therapeutic approach for enhanced MHCT.

Graphical abstract: Self-propelling bacteria-based magnetic nanoparticles (BacMags) for targeted magnetic hyperthermia therapy against hypoxic tumors

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
09 10 2023
Accepted
09 3 2024
First published
14 3 2024

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 7892-7907

Self-propelling bacteria-based magnetic nanoparticles (BacMags) for targeted magnetic hyperthermia therapy against hypoxic tumors

T. Kaur and D. Sharma, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 7892 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR05082C

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