Chapter 7
Nature Driven Magnetic
Nanoarchitectures
María Luisa Fdez-Gubieda, Lourdes Marcano, Alicia Muela,
Ana García-Prieto, Javier Alonso, and Iñaki Orue
Abstract Magnetotactic bacteria are aquatic microorganisms that have the ability to
align in the geomagnetic field lines, using a chain of magnetic nanoparticles biomineralized internally (called magnetosomes) as a compass needle. Here we describe
the biogenesis of magnetosomes, focusing in the formation of the mineral core. We
then discuss the magnetic properties of the magnetosomes and the chain of magnetosomes, a natural paradigm of a magnetic 1D nanostructure. Finally, we review the
use of magnetosomes and magnetotactic bacteria in biomedical and biotechnological applications, with special mention to the application in magnetic hyperthermia
treatments.
M. L. Fdez-Gubieda (B) · L. Marcano
Dpto. Electricidad y Electrónica, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
e-mail: malu.gubieda@ehu.eus
L. Marcano
e-mail: lourdes.marcano@ehu.eus
M. L. Fdez-Gubieda · A. Muela · A. García-Prieto
Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940
Leioa, Spain
e-mail: alicia.muela@ehu.eus
A. García-Prieto
e-mail: ana.garciap@ehu.eus
A. Muela
Dpto. Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU,
48940 Leioa, Spain
A. García-Prieto
Dpto. Física Aplicada I, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
J. Alonso
CITIMAC, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
e-mail: javier.alonsomasa@unican.es
I. Orue
SGIker, Universidad del País Vasco - UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
e-mail: inaki.orue@ehu.eus
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Peddis et al. (eds.), New Trends in Nanoparticle Magnetism,
Springer Series in Materials Science 308,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60473-8_7
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