The future of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI), as a tracer-based imaging modality, crucially relies on the development of high-performing tracers. Due to their ideal structural and magnetic properties, biogenic nanoparticles extracted from magnetotactic bacteria are promising candidates for MPI tracer research. In the present study we investigate the potential of bacterial magnetosomes, extracted from wild-type bacteria of the strain Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense and various mutants thereof, as new tracer materials for MPI. Furthermore, we investigate the structural and magnetic properties of the magnetosomes as well as their suitability as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) agents in order to explain differences in MPI and MRI efficacies
