Abstract
Derived from magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), magnetosomes consist of magnetite crystals enclosed within a lipid bilayer membrane and are known to possess advantages over artificially synthesized nanoparticles because of the narrow size distribution, uniform morphology, high purity and crystallinity, single magnetic domain, good biocompatibility, and easy surface modification. These unique properties have increasingly attracted researchers to apply bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) in the fields of biology and medicine as MRI imaging contrast agents. Due to the concern of biosafety, a long-term follow-up of the distribution and clearance of BMs after entering the body is necessary. In this study, we tracked changes of BMs in major organs of mice up to 135 days after intravenous injection using a combination of several techniques. We not only confirmed the liver as the well-known targeted organs of BMs, but also found that BMs accumulated in the spleen. Besides, two major elimination paths, as well as the approximate length of time for BMs to be cleared from the mice, were revealed. Together, the results not only confirm that BMs have high biocompatibility, but also provide a long-term in-vivo assessment which may further help to forward the clinical applications of BMs as an MRI contrast agent.
Highlights
Bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) are natural magnetic nanomaterials synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), consisting of magnetite crystals enclosed within a lipid bilayer membrane [1,2,3]
The BMs were purified from Magnetospirillum gryphisiwaldense MSR-1 magnetotactic bacteria by the ultrasonic crushing method [24]
We reported for the first time a long-term follow-up of the distribution and clearance of BMs in different tissues and organs in mice using a combination of several methods including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Summary
Bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) are natural magnetic nanomaterials synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), consisting of magnetite crystals enclosed within a lipid bilayer membrane [1,2,3]. The biogenic membranes make BMs stable and disperse well, and provide a large number of functional groups and proteins to allow easy isolation, purification, and modifications [9,10]. BMs display narrow size distribution and uniform morphologies in a single magnetotactic bacterial species or strain [11]. The process of the biomineralization of iron crystals and the formation of BMs are subject to strict gene control which guarantees good crystallinity and uniformity of the particle size and morphologies [11,12,13].
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