Characterization of Magnetosomes Extracted From rviagnetotactic Bacteria

Abstract

In the present advance biological world, the use of nanoparticles is an emerging phenomenon. Some of these are iron oxide nanoparticles have been widely used experimentally for numerous in vivo uses such as MRI, contrast improvement, tissue healing, and immunological assays, purification of organic liquids and medicine distribution and in cell segragation. Many microorganisms have been discovered which have the capability to produce such particles. These microorganisms are called as "Magnetotactic Bacteria" which biomineralize iron in the form of ferric oxide (magnetite) or ferric sulphide (gregite). The nanocrystals are present in the bacteria in the form of granules called as magnetosomes. The minerals are organized in a long chain organization and polarized in the north / south direction, thus letting the bacteria microorganisms to act like magnets. Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are mostly motile gram negative bacteria that belong to the class a-proteobacteria and fJ-proteobacteria that are in oxic anoxic transition zone (OA TZ) where there is a low amount of oxygen as these bacteria are microaerophilic in nature. The MTB can be cultured on modified spirillum growth medium (MSGM) are are usually difficult to grow in normal conditions. In current study, samplesof water and sediment were collected from different sites that include Hunza valley, Fairy Meadows, Sawan River, Khunjrab pass, Multan River, Tatta Pani (Kashmir) and Attabad Lake. After performing different biochemical test such as motility test, magnetic assessment test and activity test, temperature optimization was done for all the isolated strains. From this we concluded that most of the strains showed optimum growth at 37'C. The change of the colour of the media from brown to blackish in the motility and nutrient broth test indicated the presence of magneto somes or iron oxide in the cells. The magneto somes extracted from the MTB were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The values of the wavelength of transmittance of each strain were equal to that of iron oxide that indicated the presence of magneto somes in the bacteria. The wavenumber of the transmittance was from 619 cm-1 to 633 cm-1 which is the evidence of the presence of the ferric oxide (magnetite) or ferric sulphide (gregite). Magnetosomes have a wide range of application in the biotechnology as nanoparticles. These have also uses in biomedical word as magneto somes can be used for the treatment of cancer, tools for anti-tumor activity and in the application of drug delivery.