Semisynthetic ferritin-based nanoparticles with high magnetic anisotropy for spatial magnetic manipulation and inductive heating.

The human iron storage protein ferritin represents an appealing template to obtain a semisynthetic magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) for spatial manipulation or inductive heating applications on a nanoscale. Ferritin consists of a protein cage of well-defined size (12 nm), which is genetically modifiable and biocompatible, and into which a magnetic core is synthesised. Here, we probed the magnetic response and hence the MNP's suitability for (bio-)nanotechnological or nanomedical applications when the core is doped with 7% cobalt or 7% zinc in comparison with the undoped iron oxide MNP.

Heterogeneity of Lipopolysaccharide as Source of Variability in Bioassays and LPS-Binding Proteins as Remedy.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also referred to as endotoxin, is the major component of Gram-negative bacteria's outer cell wall. It is one of the main types of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are known to elicit severe immune reactions in the event of a pathogen trespassing the epithelial barrier and reaching the bloodstream. Associated symptoms include fever and septic shock, which in severe cases, might even lead to death.

Magnetic Nanoprobes for Spatio-Mechanical Manipulation in Single Cells.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are widely known as valuable agents for biomedical applications. Recently, MNPs were further suggested to be used for a remote and non-invasive manipulation, where their spatial redistribution or force response in a magnetic field provides a fine-tunable stimulus to a cell. Here, we investigated the properties of two different MNPs and assessed their suitability for spatio-mechanical manipulations: semisynthetic magnetoferritin nanoparticles and fully synthetic 'nanoflower'-shaped iron oxide nanoparticles.