Navigation of magnetotactic bacteria through a microfluidic vascular network

Conventional drug delivery methods, including oral ingestion and injection, distribute the drug to the entire body, reducing the amount of the drug delivered to the target tissue or organ and increasing side effects. Targeted drug delivery, in which the drug is transported directly to the target tissue or organ, can be used to minimize these negative effects. Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) have the potential to be used as targeted drug delivery agents. These bacteria have internal magnetic nanoparticles, which cause them to orient and swim in the direction of a magnetic field. This swimming behaviour facilitates the control of the MTB swimming direction by implementing a magnetic field. For MTB to be used as targeted drug delivery agents, their ability to navigate through vascular networks to reach the target must be determined. The objective of this project is to study and determine the feasibility of directing the MTB through a microfluidic vascular network, developed by Dr. Yuji Nashimoto of Tohoku University, to a target tissue by implementing a magnetic field.

Faculty Supervisor:

Carlos Escobedo

Student:

Partner:

Tohoku University

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Biotechnology; Life Sciences (not health); Nanotechnology

University:

Queen's University

Program: