Genetically engineered magnetic nanocages for cancer magneto-catalytic theranostics

Nat Commun. 2020 Oct 27;11(1):5421. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19061-9.

Abstract

The clinical applications of magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT) have been largely hindered by the poor magnetic-to-thermal conversion efficiency of MHT agents. Herein, we develop a facile and efficient strategy for engineering encapsulin-produced magnetic iron oxide nanocomposites (eMIONs) via a green biomineralization procedure. We demonstrate that eMIONs have excellent magnetic saturation and remnant magnetization properties, featuring superior magnetic-to-thermal conversion efficiency with an ultrahigh specific absorption rate of 2390 W/g to overcome the critical issues of MHT. We also show that eMIONs act as a nanozyme and have enhanced catalase-like activity in the presence of an alternative magnetic field, leading to tumor angiogenesis inhibition with a corresponding sharp decrease in the expression of HIF-1α. The inherent excellent magnetic-heat capability, coupled with catalysis-triggered tumor suppression, allows eMIONs to provide an MRI-guided magneto-catalytic combination therapy, which may open up a new avenue for bench-to-bed translational research of MHT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Catalysis
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Hyperthermia, Induced* / instrumentation
  • Hyperthermia, Induced* / methods
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Magnetics
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Myxococcus xanthus / genetics
  • Myxococcus xanthus / metabolism
  • Nanocomposites / administration & dosage*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Theranostic Nanomedicine

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Hif1a protein, mouse
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • ferric oxide