Transport characteristics of nanoparticle-based ferrofluids in a gel model of the brain

Original Research

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Authors: Soubir Basak, David Brogan, Hans Dietrich, Rogers Ritter, et al.

Published Date April 2009 Volume 2009:4 Pages 9 - 26

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S4114

Soubir Basak¹, David Brogan², Hans Dietrich², Rogers Ritter³, Ralph G Dacey², Pratim Biswas¹

¹Aerosol and Air Quality Research Laboratory, Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; ²Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; ³Stereotaxis Inc., St. Louis, MO, USA

Abstract: A current advance in nanotechnology is the selective targeting of therapeutics by external magnetic field-guided delivery. This is an important area of research in medicine. The use of magnetic forces results in the formation of agglomerated structures in the field region. The transport characteristics of these agglomerated structures are explored. A nonintrusive method based on in situ light-scattering techniques is used to characterize the velocity of such particles in a magnetic field gradient. A transport model for the chain-like agglomerates is developed based on these experimental observations. The transport characteristics of magnetic nanoparticle drug carriers are then explored in gel-based simulated models of the brain. Results of such measurements demonstrate decreased diffusion of magnetic nanoparticles when placed in a high magnetic field gradient.  

Keywords: nanoparticle ferrofluid, gel-brain model, drug delivery, magnetic agglomeration, transport, magnetic fields