MAGnetic hyperthermia agents based on Magnetically Activated microroBOTS.

Descripción del proyecto

Microrrobots para el tratamiento oncológico mediante hipertermia magnética

La hipertermia magnética es un tratamiento oncológico atraumático que utiliza nanopartículas magnéticas para destruir las células tumorales y mejora la eficacia de la radioterapia y la quimioterapia, así como la respuesta inmunitaria. En el proyecto MAGMAbots, que cuenta con el respaldo de las acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, se desarrollarán microrrobots accionados magnéticamente incorporando nanopartículas magnéticas en neutrófilos, bacterias probióticas y bacterias magnetotácticas para el tratamiento oncológico mediante hipertermia magnética y el diagnóstico por imagen. Se concebirán tres tipos de microrrobots, a saber: neu-MAGMAbot, para evaluar la eficacia de tratamientos contra el glioblastoma; pro-MAGMAbot, dirigido al cáncer de colon; y mag-MAGMAbot, para mejorar la capacidad diagnóstica de las bacterias magnetotácticas. El objetivo del MAGMAbots es contribuir al desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías atraumáticas para el tratamiento oncológico en Europa.

Objetivo

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.