Engineered Magnetobacterial Microrobots with Tunable Self-Mineralization for Precise Imaging-Guided Photothermal...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Therapy

Background:

• Micro/nanomotors show potential for remote manipulation in biological settings.
• Integrating barrier penetration, real-time tracking, and theranostics in motors is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer magneto-actuated and optically imageable biohybrid micromotors (BAMs) for precise tumor therapy.
• To develop a platform overcoming passive diffusion and enabling precise theranostics.

Main Methods:

• Biohybrid micromotors (BAMs) were created using magnetospirillum bacteria (AMB-1) and Ag2S quantum dots.
• BAMs utilized hypoxia-driven chemotaxis and magnetic navigation for tumor targeting.
• Near-infrared (NIR)-II fluorescence imaging and photothermal conversion were employed for monitoring and therapy.

Main Results:

• BAMs successfully migrated to hypoxic tumor cores via synergistic chemotaxis and magnetic actuation.
• NIR-II fluorescence imaging allowed real-time monitoring of BAMs' tumor localization.
• Photothermal conversion by BAMs induced tumor cell apoptosis and suppressed tumor growth.

Conclusions:

• The engineered BAMs platform offers precise theranostics through integrated magnetic guidance, NIR-II imaging, and photothermal therapy.
• This biohybrid system overcomes passive diffusion limitations for enhanced tumor treatment.
• BAMs demonstrate significant promise for advanced, targeted cancer interventions.