Cancer is currently one of the world’s largest health issues, taking the lives of over 690,000 people each year in the US alone. As the quest to develop effective treatments for cancer rages on, researchers are turning to Mother Nature for a solution. One of these involves the use of magnetic bacteria to create better targeted cancer treatments and change the lives of millions of people around the world. In this article, we will cover the diverse background of magnetic bacteria, explore the possibility for its use in cancer treatments, and highlight recent research and studies discussing the implications of using this innovative solution.
In order to understand how magnetic bacteria can be used for cancer treatments, it is critical to understand what this bacteria is. Simply put, magnetic bacteria are microorganisms found in various aquatic environments. They have the ability to produce tiny magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles inside their cells. Known as magnetosomes, these particles can act as a magnetic compass, allowing the bacteria to guide themselves to the Earth’s magnetic field.
One of the most innovative solutions for cancer treatments using magnetic bacteria is magnetic hyperthermia. Scientists inject magnetic bacteria into a tumor site and apply an external magnetic field. This causes the magnetic nanoparticles to generate heat, enabling them to burn cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. As cancer cells are generally more susceptible to heat due to their elevated metabolic activity and poor heat dissipation, they are more vulnerable to the heat generated by magnetic nanoparticles during hyperthermia.
Several studies have shown the potential for magnetic hyperthermia in reducing tumor size and improving cancer symptoms. In 2012, a study conducted by the University of Minnesota showed that magnetic hyperthermia could be used to treat cancer. In this study, scientists used magnetic iron oxide induced hyperthermia on mice, which showed that the temperature of the tumor center increased to about 40 celsius within the first 5-10 minutes. While the healthy cells were able to withstand the heat, the magnetic hyperthermia caused cellular damage and death, effectively destroying tumor cells on the mice’s head and neck. As data has shown, magnetic bacteria could be the future in cancer research, and be a pivotal stepping stone in modern medicine.
References
“Cancer Facts & Figures 2022.” Cancer.org, https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/cancer-facts-figures-2022.html. Accessed 21 June 2023.
“Magnetic Hyperthermia.” NB NanoScale Biomagnetics, 14 Apr. 2015, https://www.nbnanoscale.com/magnetic-hyperthermia/.
Wikipedia contributors. “Magnetotactic Bacteria.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 20 June 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Magnetotactic_bacteria&oldid=1161076281.
Zhao, Qun, et al. “Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Hyperthermia for Head & Neck Cancer in Mouse Models.” Theranostics, vol. 2, no. 1, 2012, pp. 113–121, https://doi.org10.7150/thno.3854.
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