Abstract
Realizing the full potential of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in nanomedicine requires the optimization of their physical and chemical properties. Elucidation of the effects of these properties on clinical diagnostic or therapeutic properties, however, requires the synthesis or purification of homogenous samples, which has proved to be difficult. While initial simulations indicated that size-selective separation could be achieved by flowing magnetic nanoparticles through a magnetic field, subsequent in vitro experiments were unable to reproduce the predicted results. Magnetic field-flow fractionation, however, was found to be an effective method for the separation of polydisperse suspensions of iron oxide nanoparticles with diameters greater than 20 nm. While similar methods have been used to separate magnetic nanoparticles before, no previous work has been done with magnetic nanoparticles between 20 and 200 nm. Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis were used to confirm the size of the MNPs. Further development of this work could lead to MNPs with the narrow size distributions necessary for their in vitro and in vivo optimization.
Highlights
Nanomedicine is a broad area of research focused on the utilization of nanomaterials for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases [1]
For the full potential of magnetic nanoparticles in nanomedicine to be realized, methods must be developed that allow for the distinct control of their physical and chemical properties so that particles may be optimized for specific applications
One of the most important factors that determines the behavior of magnetic nanoparticles in vivo is their size; current synthesis methods do not allow for sufficient size control for iron oxide nanoparticles of diameters greater than 30 nm
Summary
Nanomedicine is a broad area of research focused on the utilization of nanomaterials for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases [1]. Biomedical applications present a unique opportunity to create engineered nanomaterials with highly controlled properties and functions that are comparable in scale to biological molecules and structures [2] This is especially relevant for the fields of biomimetic nanomaterials, targeted drug delivery systems, and diagnostic imaging agents [3,4]. In contrast to the ever-growing list of nanomaterials researched for medical applications, the number of technologies approved for clinical use is relatively small This is, in part, due to an overall paucity of fundamental knowledge and a lack of understanding of how the physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials affect their interactions with biological systems, and the associated uncertainty in their safety and toxicity profiles [5]. One potential solution to this problem is the use of magnetic field-flow fractionation (mFFF) This process, based on the separation of particles via the combined effects of the size-dependent drag. This ability to separate magnetic nanoparticles according to their size enables the fundamental studies required to advance the use of magnetic nanoparticles in medicine
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