Project description
Microrobots for magnetic hyperthermia cancer therapy
Magnetic hyperthermia is a minimally invasive treatment for cancer that uses magnetic nanoparticles to destroy tumour cells. Magnetic hyperthermia improves the efficacy of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immune response in the destruction of tumour cells. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Programme, the MAGMAbots project aims to develop magnetically actuated microrobots (MAMs) through magnetic nanoparticles in neutrophils, probiotic bacteria and magnetotactic bacteria for magnetic hyperthermia cancer treatment and imaging diagnostics. The project will construct neu-MAGMAbot for assessment of the efficacy of treatments against glioblastoma, pro-MAGMAbot for targeting colon cancers and mag-MAGMAbot for improved diagnostic capabilities of magnetotactic bacteria. The project aims at providing innovations in non-invasive cancer treatment technologies in Europe.
Objective
The MAGMAbots project proposes the development of three innovative magnetically actuated microrobots (MAMs)—based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNP)-loaded neutrophils, probiotic bacteria, and magnetotactic bacteria—for cancer therapy through magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) and advanced imaging. The objectives are: (1) to design and characterize neu-MAGMAbot, an MAM based on neutrophils, evaluating its penetration across a 3D blood–brain barrier (BBB) model and its anticancer activity against glioblastoma; (2) to engineer pro-MAGMAbot, a probiotic-based microrobot, and test its targeting, cytotoxicity, and hyperthermia performance in colorectal cancer spheroids; and (3) to develop mag-MAGMAbot, MAMs based on magnetotactic bacteria with enhanced magnetosome-based magnetic and diagnostic properties.
The project will achieve these objectives based on a patented-driven methodology. This strategy preserves cell viability while enabling robust MNP internalization, and subsequent magnetic guidance via rotating magnetic fields, and real-time tracking through MPI/MRI. The work plan integrates advanced nanoparticle engineering, microfluidic BBB-on-chip models, 3D cancer spheroids, and multimodal imaging technologies, supported by the host group’s expertise in nanomaterials, magnetism, and biomedical applications.
Aligned with Horizon Europe’s Health Cluster and the Mission on Cancer, MAGMAbots directly addresses the challenge of developing innovative, non-invasive, and cost-effective therapeutic solutions for hard-to-treat tumours such as glioblastoma and colorectal cancer. Beyond the project’s duration, the results are expected to pave the way for scalable, patentable biohybrid microrobots, reduce healthcare costs, and reinforce European leadership in nanomedicine and biomedical innovation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology nanomedicine
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
16163 Genova
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.