Interactions between Magnetic Nanoparticles and a Static Magnetic Field

“In this presentation, we reviewed some basic concepts regarding the interactions between magnetic nanoparticles and a static or time-varying external magnetic field. We showed how these pertain to current biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles. The focus was, in particular, on magnetic separation and drug delivery, although these are only two of the many biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles currently being explored. For example, there’s magnetic twisting cytometry, a process in which ferromagnetic microspheres are bound to specific receptors on a cell wall.

Using the oscillatory magnetic field generator, iron oxide nanoparticles in solution can undergo controlled rotational movement. This rotational nanoparticle movement can be applied to remotely induce apoptosis by injuring lysosomal membrane structures. Our findings suggest that treatment with lysosome-targeted nanoparticles offers a noninvasive tool to induce apoptosis remotely.

The development of cancer treatments with different modes of action is paramount in targeting cancer cells that evade chemotherapeutic treatment. With the novel approach of inducing cell-mediated apoptosis by also coating the cell surface, the effectiveness of targeting with chemotherapeutic drugs is significantly improved. This exhibits the greatest advantage of cancer treatment in selectively killing the targeted cancer cells.

This technique induced programmed cell death and apoptosis which killed the cell without damaging the surrounding tissue, thereby accelerating the healing process. The lack of heat produced by this procedure allowed researchers to study the mechanisms of nanoparticle rotation.

Changing the direction of an applied magnetic field twists the microsphere by a measurable amount. This can then be related to the mechanical properties of the cell membrane and cytoskeleton. Magnetic nanoparticles are also being tested for tissue engineering applications, for example, in the mechanical conditioning of cells growing in culture.”

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