Study of intracellular magnetosome degradation in 3D models of human lung carcinoma cells

Magnetosomes are magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria. Due to their stunning properties, they are recently been studied for several biomedical applications. However, little has been reported about the fate that these nanoparticles follow once they have performed their function in the human body and this aspect is essential if they are to be used for clinical applications. In this experiment, we aim to study the long-term intracellular degradation process that magnetosomes undergo in 3D models (spheroids) of human lung carcinoma cells (A549) by tracking the structural and electronic changes that Fe atoms undergo by means of Fe K-edge XANES spectroscopy. In parallel, the degradation of iron oxide commercial nanoparticles designed for biomedical applications will be studied to compare with that of magnetosomes.