Development of magnetic force-assisted gene transfer system using biopolymer-coated ferromagnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

The concept of drug-accumulation in the blood vessel utilizing magnetic force was a novel concept in the cancer treatment. In the present study, calculation of the applied magnetic force for the ferromagnetic particles inside the blood vessel was performed in order to clarify the effect of magnetic field gradient on the accumulation possibility of the magnetic particles and the accuracy of the targeted site in the blood vessels. The development of a two-dimensional (2D) navigation system of ferromagnetic particles in a flow system was performed. In order to improve the practice of using externally-applied magnetic fields for targeting the magnetic particles to a circumscribed body region, we tested the feasibility of a novel navigation system, made by applying a strong external (magnetic) field through a GdBaCuO bulk superconductor. A theoretical model is proposed and used in order to evaluate the efficiency of the navigation/retention of magnetic particles in the flow system. Furthermore, an experimental model system was made and the efficiency of a prototype system was examined. Comparisons of experimental and the corresponding calculation results were made to design the magnet for magnetically targeted drug delivery system in practical use.