Bioinspired nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and treatment
Cancer remains a major global health challenge, creating a continuing need for diagnostic and therapeutic tools that are more precise, adaptable and sustainable. Conventional nanoparticle production can rely on harsh chemicals and energy-intensive processes. At the same time, translating nanomaterials into medical applications requires careful control of their size, composition and biological behaviour.
Learning from nature
Magnetotactic bacteria(opens in new window) produce highly uniform magnetic crystals called magnetosomes under mild biological conditions. Specialised proteins control their composition, size and shape, providing an example of precise mineral formation without the extreme conditions often associated with conventional synthesis. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions(opens in new window) programme, the ProteNano-MAG project set out to investigate how magnetotactic bacteria naturally produce magnetic nanoparticles and whether they could be utilised for a greener route to cancer imaging and therapy. “Nature shows us that producing highly sophisticated nanomaterials does not necessarily require harsh chemistry or extreme conditions,” explains research fellow Lourdes Marcano, now assistant professor at the University of Oviedo. Rather than using bacteria directly as production factories, ProteNano-MAG adapted elements of their machinery associated with magnetosome formation. Researchers designed proteins(opens in new window) containing sites that coordinate iron and guide nanoparticle formation. This approach enabled the controlled synthesis of iron-based nanohybrids under milder conditions, demonstrating the potential of engineered proteins as tuneable templates for magnetic materials.
From magnetic nanoparticles to cancer theranostics
One of the long-standing goals in nanomedicine is to create reproducible nanostructures whose properties can be designed for a particular application. The resulting materials were investigated for applications that combine diagnosis and treatment, known as theranostics. ProteNano-MAG focused on small iron oxide/protein nanohybrids, including structures of around 5 nm, with potential for use in magnetic resonance imaging and cancer therapy. Magnetic nanoparticles can generate heat when exposed to an alternating magnetic field, a property that can be exploited in magnetic hyperthermia to damage cancer cells. Alongside the core ProteNano-MAG work, Marcano was also involved in studies examining how nanoparticle morphology and magnetic properties influence heat generation under alternating magnetic fields, with potential relevance for therapeutic performance. “Having modular materials whose size, magnetic properties, targeting elements or therapeutic functionality can be adjusted could eventually allow us to design platforms adapted to particular clinical needs,” says Marcano. Collaborative studies of magnetotactic bacteria also provided new insights into the relationship(opens in new window) between nanoparticle morphology, magnetic anisotropy and heating efficiency.
Towards sustainable nanomedicine
The ProteNano-MAG project has established proof-of-concept for using engineered proteins to support greener magnetic nanoparticle synthesis. The combination of imaging and therapeutic functions could ultimately support more targeted treatment strategies, although substantial research and validation are still required before such applications can reach clinical use. The next steps include improving reproducibility and scalability. Researchers will also carry out more extensive studies of stability, biocompatibility, toxicity, biodistribution and therapeutic performance. The project’s bioinspired approach also aligns with broader efforts to reduce the environmental impact of advanced materials manufacturing. By translating principles observed in nature into controllable synthetic systems, ProteNano-MAG demonstrates how nanotechnology, protein engineering and biomedicine can converge to explore more sustainable routes towards future cancer technologies.
