磁性細菌を用いたナノ磁性粒子の創製と医療分野ヘの応用

摘要

Magnetic particles are important materials in biotechnological and biomedical applications such as carriers for recovery and detection of DNA, proteins, and cells. Biomolecules such as DNA, enzymes, and antibodies have been immobilized onto magnetic particles, and the complexes have been used as recognition materials for recovery or detection. However, preparing the magnetic particle-biomolecule complexes is labor-intensive. Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize nano-sized magnetosomes that have a core of magnetite (Fe_3O_4) under physiological conditions. We describe several methods for producing functional magnetic nanoparticles using genetic engineering and their medical applications.