title: The in-flow capture of superparamagnetic nanoparticles for targeting therapeutics.
abstract: Superparamagnetic nanoparticles have been synthesized that could potentially be used to magnetically target therapeutics within the body. The magnetic targeting and successful in-flow capture of 330-nm and 580-nm agglomerates of these magnetite nanoparticles was performed using a 0.5-T magnet. Optical observation of magnetic nanoparticle capture in microcapillary flow provides a useful preliminary way of establishing conditions for the magnetic capture of nanoparticles with direct relevance to blood vessels for magnetically directed therapy. A stable nanoparticle layer of 580-nm agglomerates could be formed at mean capillary flow velocities of up to 2.5 cm s(-1) and for the 330-nm agglomerates at velocities up to 4.4 cm s(-1). These data show that smaller nanoparticle agglomerates form a layer that is impervious to erosion by fluid shear. Capillary blocking by nanoparticles, analogous to an embolism, was not detected in these experiments.
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Darton
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Hallmark
authors: Xuan
authors: X
authors: Han
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Palit
authors: Nigel K H
authors: NK
authors: Slater
authors: Malcolm R
authors: MR
authors: Mackley
mesh_terms: D008280:Magnetics; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles; D013812:Therapeutics