Magnetic Bacteria Help Screen and Destroy Stomach Cancer: Study

Newly created magnetic bacteria can help screen digestive diseases and stomach cancer, according to a study.

Spanish researchers from the Bionomet, the Metallic Bio-nano particle research group in the department of inorganic chemistry and Institute of Biotechnology in University of Granada developed a new method of diagnosing deadly conditions in the stomach by combining magnetic particles with pro-biotic bacteria in food.

These magnetic pro-biotics behave like natural magnetic bacteria and when ingested with food substances having lactobacillus fermentum and bifidobacteria breve act as an internal compass and help detect cancer cells inside the digestive system. The tiny particles settle around the cancerous growth that can be traced by magnetic resonance imaging and help in destroying malignant cells by heating through magneto hypothermia.

So far, the method has never been used in humans to treat and test diseases. But, these nano particles mimic the functioning of natural magneto bacteria, which are very difficult to acquire in adequate amount. This is the very first method that uses food as natural medication for any form of illnesse.

Usually, treatment for stomach cancer requires complex and expensive medical procedures including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and use of vaccines. Even after undergoing invasive treatments only 28 percent of patients survive five years after stomach cancer. According to the data by the National Cancer Institute, nearly 22,220 individuals will be affected with stomach cancer this year and 10,990 are likely to succumb to the disease.

The research is still in the experimental phase and the scientists are investigating on finding new ways to utilize pro-biotic bacteria to treat and diagnose gastric tumors and make it consumable like oral minerals and iron supplements.

The experiment was funded by the IDEA a regional government of Andalusia's Agency for Innovation and Development. More information is available online in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.