Aston University has been awarded €1.2 million to fund an international project developing cancer tumour-fighting ‘magnetobots’. 

The university was awarded the funding through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges programme for the project bringing together 18 partner organisations. 

The magnetobots, made from microorganisms called magnetotactic bacteria, will combine theranostic technologies to identify and treat solid tumours of common cancers in Europe, including pancreatic, breast, lung, and colorectal cancer.  

The project, called MagBIO, will use a combination of biology, chemistry, engineering and imaging techniques to study how the bacteria grow, how they make their magnetic particles, and how their surface can be modified. 

“We are incredibly proud that MagBIO represents one of the first coordinated Europe-wide efforts to bring together leading experts in magnetotactic bacteria with specialists from complementary disciplines to explore living magnetobots for cancer theranostics,” said Dr Fernandez-Castane from Aston University, who is leading the project. 

“The field is still at an early stage, but the potential is truly exciting. By building on a strong foundation of pioneering research, MagBIO aims to create the interdisciplinary momentum needed to advance next-generation theranostics based on living bacteria.” 

International project builds on research into magnetotactic bacteria

Magnetotactic bacteria, which are found in nature, make magnetic particles inside their cells, called magnetosomes, to help the bacteria navigate through their environment using magnetic fields. They are often found in watery places such as lakes, rivers, sediments and low-oxygen environments.  

The MagBIO team will attempt to harness this natural magnetic property and affiliation for low-oxygen environments. 

Researchers will look to add ‘payloads’, such as anti-cancer drugs, drug-loaded liposomes, and immune-stimulating materials, to the surface of the bacteria. The magnetic particles in the bacteria could help researchers to guide them precisely to tumours, using external magnetic fields, while tracking them using imaging methods like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 

The project will build on previous research into magnetotactic bacteria, with Dr Fernandez-Castane’s research group already using magnetotactic bacteria and their magnetosomes to recover valuable proteins from blood serum and recover critical metals from waste materials. 

Aston University says the project will also focus on sustainability, improving yields, reducing waste, using digital monitoring tools, and looking at whether by-products or waste streams from the process can be reused or reduced.  

The 18 partners from universities, research organisations, SMEs and specialist companies will hail from countries including France, Spain, Switzerland and the US.