Synthesis of Magnetic Nanoparticles Stabilized by Magnetite-Binding Protein for Targeted Delivery to Cancer Cells

A new method for obtaining biomodified magnetite nanoparticles for targeted delivery to cells was developed. The method is based on the use of the C-terminal fragment of the Mms6 protein, which is involved in the magnetite biomineralization during the synthesis of magnetosomes in magnetotactic bacteria Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1, and the barnase*barstar high-affinity protein pair. The Mms6 protein fragment is required for stabilizing magnetite, and the barnase*barstar pair mediates the interaction between nanoparticles and the component for modification. The efficiency of this method was confirmed in the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles recognizing the HER2/neu tumor marker and in the selective labeling of HER2/neu with these nanoparticles on the surface of cancer cells.