Biosynthesis of Thermoresponsive Magnetic Nanoparticles by Magnetosome Display System

Thermoresponsive magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized using a magnetosome display system. An elastin-like polypeptide decamer of VPGVG (ELP₁₀), which is hydrophobic above the transition temperature (T_t) and can form an insoluble aggregation, was immobilized on biogenic MNPs in the magnetotactic bacterium, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1. It was suggested that hydrophobicity of the MNP surface increased at 60 °C compared with 20 °C by the immobilization of ELP₁₀. Size distribution analysis indicated that the immobilization of ELP₁₀ onto MNPs induced the increased hydrophobicity with increasing temperatures up to 60 °C, promoting aggregation of the particles by hydrophobic and magnetic interactions. These results suggest that the acceleration of magnetic collection at 60 °C was caused by particle aggregation promoted by hydrophobic interaction between ELP-MNPs. Furthermore, the immobilization of ELP on MNPs gave a quick magnetic collection at 60 °C by external magnetic field. The thermoresponsive properties will further expand the utility of biotechnological applications of biogenic MNPs.