International audienceChains of magnetosomes extracted from magnetotactic bacteria are shown to be highly efficient for alternative magnetic field cancer therapy. The viability of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells is relatively unaffected by the presence of less than ∼ 1 mg of chains of magnetosomes. When these cells are exposed to an oscillating magnetic field of frequency 183 kHz and field strengths of 20 to 60 mT, up to 100 % of them are destroyed. We show that it is possible to fully eradicate a tumor xeno-greffed on a mouse by administering a suspension containing ∼ 1 mg of chains of magnetosomes within the tumor and by exposing the mouse to three heat cycles of 20 minutes, during which the tumor temperature is raised to ∼ 43°C. We demonstrate the higher efficiency of the chains of magnetosomes compared with various other materials, i. e. whole inactive magnetotactic bacteria, individual magnetosomes not organized in chains and two different types of chemically synthesized nanoparticles currently tested for alternative magnetic field cancer therapy. The efficiency of the chains of magnetosomes is attributed to three factors, (i), a high magnetosome specific absorption rate (SAR), (ii), a homogenous distribution of the chains of magnetosomes within the tumor yielding uniform heating and (iii), the faculty of the chains of magnetosomes to penetrate within the cancer cells following the application of the alternative magnetic field, which enables intra-cellular heating. Biodistribution studies reveal that chains of magnetosomes administered directly within xeno-greffed breast tumors progressively leave the tumors during the 14 days following their administration and are then eliminated in the feces

Magnetotactic bacteria belong to a group of bacteria that synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles covered by biological material that are called magnetosomes. These bacteria use the magnetosomes as a compass to navigate in the direction of the earth’s magnetic field. This compass helps the bacteria to find the optimum conditions for their growth and survival. Here, we review several medical applications of magnetosomes, such as those in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic hyperthermia, and drug delivery. Different methods that can be used to prepare the magnetosomes for these applications are described. The toxicity and biodistribution results that have been published are summarized. They show that the magnetosomes can safely be used provided that they are prepared in specific conditions. The advantageous properties of the magnetosomes compared with those of chemically synthesized nanoparticles of similar composition are also highlighted.