Suspensions Of Magnetic Nanoparticles Research Articles

The “field or frequency” dilemma in magnetic hyperthermia: The case of Zn Mn ferrite nanoparticles

• The conversion efficiency of electromagnetic energy to thermal energy is improved. • The SAR and ILP of Zn Mn ferrite MNPs is maximized with respect to the Zn content. • The optimum frequency of AC magnetic field decreases with the average MNPs size. • The SAR of the large MNPs has the super-quadratic dependence on the magnetic field. • The activation of Brown heating mechanism is shown for MNPs suspension in glycerol . The efficiency of conversion of electromagnetic energy into heat is a key factor for magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) utilization in magnetic hyperthermia as well as in advanced magnetothermal medical techniques. Currently, the need to improve the MNPs heat release results in the increase of weight, size and power of alternating current (AC) facility and the aggravating side effects on health tissues. The aim of our work is to address these problems by offering a new strategy for improving the heat release at a relatively low frequency using ferrite based MNPs. We demonstrate nontrivial dependence of MNPs heat release on the amplitude of the AC magnetic field in zinc manganese ferrite Zn 0.2 Mn 0.8 Fe 2 O 4 MNPs (close to 5th power instead of a well-known quadratic). Our studies challenge the current conventional approaches based on the minimization of magnetic field amplitude. We offer a better strategy: to increase the amplitude while reducing the frequency to exploit the full potential of superquadratic law for amplitude dependence of heat output. We believe that this research should have a profound impact on a number of advanced biomedical applications of MNPs and magnetic hyperthermia.

Long-range stray field mapping of statically magnetized nanoparticles using magnetoresistive sensor

Analyzing the spatial distribution of stray field from magnetic nanoparticles is a crucial step to design and optimize the magnetometric system for a clinical magnetic particle imaging (MPI) scanner. Here, we used a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor to probe the stray field directly from a commercial magnetic nanoparticle suspension conditioned under a static field. For a given 20 mT by a small permanent magnet, the stray field of a liquid sample with a 0.7 mgFe iron mass is in nanotesla order measured by the MR sensor at 50 mm apart from the sample, while the magnetization is comparable to several microtesla. This field decay demands picotesla sensitivity of the sensing system to record the stray field for a further distance or a smaller excitation field. Moreover, from a two-dimensional trajectory of sample and magnet movements relative to the sensor position, we confirmed that the spatial distribution of the stray field appeared to correlate with sample geometry. The distribution became broadening for low iron mass concentration of the sample. From this observation, an MR sensor proves its potential for locating the magnetic nanoparticles under a quasistatic field, which can be extensively implemented for a single-sided MPI scanner.

Effect of static magnetic field bias on dynamic hysteresis loops of a magnetic nanoparticle suspension

Herein, dynamic hysteresis loops of Fe3O4 suspension were investigated at different amplitudes of AC magnetic field (AMF) with simultaneously applied parallel DC magnetic fields (DC-MF). Consequently, the dynamic magnetization induced by a small AMF showed approximately the same gradient as that of thermal equilibrium magnetization at large DC-MF. However, the slope of the dynamic magnetization was smaller than that of thermal equilibrium value at small DC-MF. At large AMF, the addition of DC-MF caused simple shifts in the MH curves. The dynamic loop area, which is considered to be equal to the heating ability, decreased at small DC-MF and dampened the heat generation characteristics. At large AMF amplitudes, the reduction in the loop area due to the application of DC-MF was suppressed.

Deep Eutectic Solvent Functionalized Graphene Oxide Based Ferrofluid for the Liquid Phase Microextraction of Fluoroquinolones from Water Samples

The development of smart materials have a significant impact on sample preparation and preconcentration methods. Ferrofluid or magnetic fluids (FF) are smart colloidal suspensions of single domain magnetic nanoparticles in a polar or non-polar liquid carrier. In this study, graphene oxide magnetite (GO@Fe3O4) and deep eutectic solvent-based choline chloride and ethylene glycol as a carrier liquid were utilized to form GO@Fe3O4-DES FF. The synthesised GO@Fe3O4-DES FF was characterized using FTIR, SEM, TEM and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). GO@Fe3O4-DES FF was further developed for the application of GO@Fe3O4-DES FF-liquid phase microextraction (LPME) for enrofloxacin as test compound. Several parameters such as type of FF composition and volume, extraction time, desorption solvent volume, desorption time and solution pH were optimised and analysed using HPLC-UV. Under optimum conditions, the developed GO@Fe3O4-DES FF-LPME method showed good linearity, R2 ≥ 0.9921, repeatability, RSD 0.57 – 9.40 %. The developed GO@Fe3O4-DES FF-LPME method was applied for the determination of enrofloxacin in water samples from Langat River Basin, Selangor and the recovery of 71.6 – 112.3% was obtained. In conclusion, the developed GO@Fe3O4-DES FF-LPME method for the determination of enrofloxacin showed excellent sensitivity and precision and may be an excellent alternative method for the extraction on water samples.

Multiparticle collision dynamics for ferrofluids.

Detailed studies of the intriguing field-dependent dynamics and transport properties of confined flowing ferrofluids require efficient mesoscopic simulation methods that account for fluctuating ferrohydrodynamics. Here, we propose such a new mesoscopic model for the dynamics and flow of ferrofluids, where we couple the multi-particle collision dynamics method as a solver for the fluctuating hydrodynamics equations to the stochastic magnetization dynamics of suspended magnetic nanoparticles. This hybrid model is validated by reproducing the magnetoviscous effect in Poiseuille flow, obtaining the rotational viscosity in quantitative agreement with theoretical predictions. We also illustrate the new method for the benchmark problem of flow around a square cylinder. Interestingly, we observe that the length of the recirculation region is increased, whereas the drag coefficient is decreased in ferrofluids when an external magnetic field is applied compared with the field-free case at the same effective Reynolds number. The presence of thermal fluctuations and the flexibility of this particle-based mesoscopic method provide a promising tool to investigate a broad range of flow phenomena of magnetic fluids, and the method could also serve as an efficient way to simulate solvent effects when colloidal particles are immersed in ferrofluids.

Optothermal grid activation of microflow with magnetic nanoparticle thermophoresis for microfluidics.

We report focused light-induced activation of intense magnetic microconvection mediated by suspended magnetic nanoparticles in microscale two-dimensional optothermal grids. Fully anisotropic control of microflow and mass transport fluxes is achieved by engaging the magnetic field along one or the other preferred directions. The effect is based on the recently described thermal diffusion-magnetomechanical coupling in synthetic magnetic nanofluids. We expect that the new phenomenon can be applied as an efficient all-optical mixing strategy in integrated microfluidic devices. This article is part of the theme issue 'Transport phenomena in complex systems (part 2)'.

Ferrofluids and bio-ferrofluids: looking back and stepping forward.

Ferrofluids investigated along for about five decades are ultrastable colloidal suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles, which manifest simultaneously fluid and magnetic properties. Their magnetically controllable and tunable feature proved to be from the beginning an extremely fertile ground for a wide range of engineering applications. More recently, biocompatible ferrofluids attracted huge interest and produced a considerable increase of the applicative potential in nanomedicine, biotechnology and environmental protection. This paper offers a brief overview of the most relevant early results and a comprehensive description of recent achievements in ferrofluid synthesis, advanced characterization, as well as the governing equations of ferrohydrodynamics, the most important interfacial phenomena and the flow properties. Finally, it provides an overview of recent advances in tunable and adaptive multifunctional materials derived from ferrofluids and a detailed presentation of the recent progress of applications in the field of sensors and actuators, ferrofluid-driven assembly and manipulation, droplet technology, including droplet generation and control, mechanical actuation, liquid computing and robotics.

Nanofluidic thermal-fluid transport in a split-driven porous system working under a magnetic environment

PurposeThis study aims to focus on a thermo-fluid flow in a partially driven cavity (PDC) using Cu-water nanoliquid, magnetic field and porous substance. The cooling and sliding motion are applied on the upper half of the vertical walls and the bottom wall is heated. Thermal characteristics are explored to understand magnetohydrodynamic convection in a nanoliquid filled porous system from a fundamental viewpoint. The governing parameters involved to cater to the moving speed of the sidewalls and partial translation direction are the relative strength of thermal buoyancy, porous substance permeability, magnetic field intensity, nanoparticle suspension and orientation of the cavity.Design/methodology/approachThe coupled transport equations of the problem are solved using an in-house developed finite volume-based computing code. The staggered nonuniform grids along the x and y directions are used. The SIMPLE algorithm technique is considered for the iterative solution of the discretized equations with the convergence check of the continuity mass defect below 10–10.FindingsThe present study unveils that the heat transfer enhances at higher Ri with the increasing value of Re, irrespective of the presence of a porous substance or magnetic field or the concentration of nanofluid. Apart from different flow controlling parameters, the wall motions have a significant contribution to the formation of flow vortices and corresponding heat transfer. Orientation of the cavity significantly alters the transport process within the cavity. The upward wall velocity for both the sidewalls could be a better choice to enhance the high heat transfer (approximately 88.39% at Richardson and Reynolds numbers, respectively, 0.1 and 200).Research limitations/implicationsConsidering other multi-physical scenarios like porous layers, conducting block, microorganisms and the present investigation could be further extended to analyze a problem of complex flow physics.Practical implicationsIn this study, the concept of partially driven wall motion has been adopted under the Cu-water nanoliquid, magnetic field, porous substance and oblique enclosure. All the involved flow-controlling parameters have been experimented with under a wide parametric range and associated thermo-flow physics are analyzed in detail. This outcome of this study can be very significant for designing as well as controlling thermal devices.Originality/valueThe convective process in a partially driven cavity (PDC) with the porous medium has not been investigated in detail considering the multi-physical scenarios. Thus, the present effort is motivated to explore the thermal convection in such an oblique enclosure. The enclosure is heated at its bottom and has partially moving-wall cold walls. It consists of various multi-physical conditions like porous structure, magnetic field, Cu–H2O nanoliquid, etc. The system performance is addressed under different significant variables such as Richardson number, Reynolds number, Darcy number, Hartmann number, nanoliquid concentration and orientation of cavity.

Parameter dependent finite element analysis for ferronematics solutions

This paper focuses on the analysis of a free energy functional, that models a dilute suspension of magnetic nanoparticles in a two-dimensional nematic well. The first part of the article is devoted to the asymptotic analysis of global energy minimizers in the limit of vanishing elastic constant, ℓ→0 where the re-scaled elastic constant ℓ is inversely proportional to the domain area. The first results concern the strong H1-convergence and a ℓ-independent H2-bound for the global minimizers on smooth bounded 2D domains, with smooth boundary and topologically trivial Dirichlet conditions. The second part focuses on the discrete approximation of regular solutions of the corresponding non-linear system of partial differential equations with cubic non-linearity and non-homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions. We establish (i) the existence and local uniqueness of the discrete solutions using fixed point argument, (ii) a best approximation result in energy norm, (iii) error estimates in the energy and L2 norms with ℓ-discretization parameter dependency for the conforming finite element method. Finally, the theoretical results are complemented by numerical experiments on the discrete solution profiles, the numerical convergence rates that corroborates the theoretical estimates, followed by plots that illustrate the dependence of the discretization parameter on ℓ.

Dynamic Susceptibility of Ferrofluids: The Numerical Algorithm for the Inverse Problem of Magnetic Granulometry

The size-dependent properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) are the major characteristics, determining MNP application in modern technologies and bio-medical techniques. Direct measurements of the nanosized particles, involved in intensive Brownian motion, are very complicated; so the correct mathematical methods for the experimental data processing enable to successfully predict the properties of MNP suspensions. In the present paper, we describe the fast numerical algorithm allowing to get the distribution over the relaxation time of MNP magnetic moments in ferrofluids. The algorithm is based on numerical fitting of the experimentally measured frequency spectra of the initial dynamic magnetic susceptibility. The efficiency of the algorithm in the solution of the inverse problem of magnetic granulometry is substantiated by the computer experiments for mono- and bi-fractional ferrofluids.

Tunable nonlinear optical properties in magnetic nanoparticles suspension under picosecond laser excitation

In this paper, the intensity-dependent nonlinear optical absorption and nonlinear refraction behaviors of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles suspension exposed to the 1064 nm picosecond laser pulses (25 ps) were investigated by applying the Z-scan technique. A new type of saturation absorption curve of the magnetic fluids was obtained at lower excitation power levels. As the exciting energy increased, the nonlinear absorption changed from saturable absorption to reverse-saturable absorption, while the nonlinear refraction correspondingly reversed from self-defocusing to self-focusing. These interesting tunable nonlinear optical properties were attributed to the inter-valence charge transfer.

Tailored nematic and magnetization profiles on two-dimensional polygons.

We study dilute suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles in a nematic host, on two-dimensional polygons. These systems are described by a nematic order parameter and a spontaneous magnetization, in the absence of any external fields. We study the stable states in terms of stable critical points of an appropriately defined free energy, with a nemato-magnetic coupling energy. We numerically study the interplay between the shape of the regular polygon, the size of the polygon, and the strength of the nemato-magnetic coupling for the multistability of this prototype system. Our notable results include (1) the coexistence of stable states with domain walls and stable interior and boundary defects, (2) the suppression of multistability for positive nemato-magnetic coupling, and (3) the enhancement of multistability for negative nemato-magnetic coupling.

Continuous size fractionation of magnetic nanoparticles by using simulated moving bed chromatography

The size fractionation of magnetic nanoparticles is a technical problem, which until today can only be solved with great effort. Nevertheless, there is an important demand for nanoparticles with sharp size distributions, for example for medical technology or sensor technology. Using magnetic chromatography, we show a promising method for fractionation of magnetic nanoparticles with respect to their size and/or magnetic properties. This was achieved by passing magnetic nanoparticles through a packed bed of fine steel spheres with which they interact magnetically because single domain ferro-/ferrimagnetic nanoparticles show a spontaneous magnetization. Since the strength of this interaction is related to particle size, the principle is suitable for size fractionation. This concept was transferred into a continuous process in this work using a so-called simulated moving bed chromatography. Applying a suspension of magnetic nanoparticles within a size range from 20 to 120 nm, the process showed a separation sharpness of up to 0.52 with recovery rates of 100%. The continuous feed stream of magnetic nanoparticles could be fractionated with a space-time-yield of up to 5 mg/(L∙min). Due to the easy scalability of continuous chromatography, the process is a promising approach for the efficient fractionation of industrially relevant amounts of magnetic nanoparticles.

Multifunctional Magnetic Nanocolloids for Hybrid Solar-Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting.

Present environmental issues force the research to explore radically new concepts in sustainable and renewable energy production. In the present work, a functional fluid consisting of a stable colloidal suspension of maghemite magnetic nanoparticles in water was characterized from the points of view of thermoelectrical and optical properties, to evaluate its potential for direct electricity generation from thermoelectric effect enabled by the absorption of sunlight. These nanoparticles were found to be an excellent solar radiation absorber and simultaneously a thermoelectric power-output enhancer with only a very small volume fraction when the fluid was heated from the top. These findings demonstrate the investigated nanofluid’s high promise as a heat transfer fluid for co-generating heat and power in brand new hybrid flat-plate solar thermal collectors where top-heating geometry is imposed.

Shear-induced ferrocholesteric-to-ferronematic transitions in magnetic field

We explore the effect of magnetic field and shear flow on the helicoidal structure of a ferrocholesteric liquid crystal (the suspension of magnetic nanoparticles in a cholesteric liquid crystal) with finite orientational coupling between magnetic nanoparticles and cholesteric matrix. We consider the geometry in which the helicoid axis is perpendicular to the magnetic field and the shear plane. It is shown how the interplay between magnetic and hydrodynamic forces affects the untwisting of the initial helical structure of the ferrocholesteric, inducing orientation transitions into the ferronematic phase with different orientational and magnetic ordering.We find the field dependences of the ferrocholesteric helix pitch and obtain diagrams of orientation transitions. It is established that the increase in the anchoring energy brings to the reduction of threshold fields necessary for the untwisting of the structure. We study the magnetic characteristics of a deformed ferrocholesteric state and analyze the ability of shear stresses to magnetize a ferrocholesteric liquid crystal. Two regimes of the magnetization vector behavior that depend on the magnitude of the anchoring energy have been found.

Domain growth in ferronematics: slaved coarsening, emergent morphologies and growth laws.

Ferronematics (FNs) are suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles in nematic liquid crystals (NLCs). They have attracted much experimental attention, and are of great interest both scientifically and technologically. There are very few theoretical studies of FNs, even in equilibrium. In this paper, we study the non-equilibrium phenomenon of domain growth after a thermal quench (or coarsening) in this coupled system. Our modeling is based on coupled time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equations for two order parameters: the LC tensor order parameter Q, and the magnetization M. We consider both shallow and deep quenches from a high-temperature disordered phase. The system coarsens by the collision and annihilation of topological defects. We focus on slaved coarsening, where a disordered Q (or M) field is driven to coarsen by an ordered M (or Q) field. We present detailed results for the morphologies and growth laws, which exhibit unusual features purely due to the magneto-nematic coupling. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of non-equilibrium phenomena in FNs.

Intra-Arterial Infusion of Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Theragnostic Agent to Treat Colorectal Cancer Liver Implants in Rats

Introduction: Nowadays, surgical excision remains the gold standard to treat liver metastases of colorectal cancer (CRCLM). However, as more than 50% of patients are not eligible for surgery, other alternatives such as percutaneous or intravascular interventional therapies (thermal ablation, chemoembolization, or radioembolization), are quite relevant. Recently, the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) has been suggested as an adjuvant for these therapies, as they could increase their necrotising effect on the tumour while reducing doses and exposure times of thermal therapies. To investigate the potential curative effect of these compounds, animal models are needed, both for the development of experimental interventional procedures and for MNPs toxicity and distribution assessment. Herein, we describe both an experimental infusion procedure in CRCLM-bearing rats and analytical and histological methods to evaluate MNPs deposits in the tissue. Methods: Eighteen male WAG/RijHsd rats were subjected to intrahepatic injection of 250,000 colorectal cancer cells. Twenty-eight days later, half of the tumour-positive animals (n = 6) were administered with MNPs while the other half (n = 6) did not receive any injection and were used as control. Under microscope magnification, the splenic artery was carefully and completely dissected, and a catheter was inserted through the splenic artery to the common hepatic artery where 1 mL MNPs suspension was administered in 5 min; then STIR, DP*, and T2 MRI sequences were obtained (and signal intensity measured) and both tumour and liver tissue samples were collected for elemental and histological analyses. Conclusion: Our method for selective administration of MNPs is reproducible and well-tolerated and it fairly mimics the approach used in clinical practice when intravascular interventional therapies are applied.

Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia for treating locally advanced unresectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancers: the role of tumor size and eddy-current heating

Purpose Tumor volume largely determines the success of local control of borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer with current therapy. We hypothesized that a tumor-mass normalized dose of magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNPH) with alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) reduces the effect of tumor volume for treatment. Methods 18 female athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous MiaPaCa02 human xenograft tumors were treated with MNPH following intratumor injections of 5.5 mg Fe/g tumor of an aqueous suspension of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles. Mice were randomly divided into control (n = 5) and treated groups having small (0.15 ± 0.03 cm3, n = 4) or large (0.30 ± 0.06 cm3, n = 5) tumors. We assessed the clinical feasibility of this approach and of pulsed AMF to minimize eddy current heating using a finite-element method to solve a bioheat equation for a human-scale multilayer model. Results Compared to the control group, both small and large MiaPaCa02 subcutaneous tumors showed statistically significant growth inhibition. Conversely, there was no significant difference in tumor growth between large and small tumors. Both computational and xenograft models demonstrated higher maximum tumor temperatures for large tumors compared to small tumors. Computational modeling demonstrates that pulsed AMF can minimize nonspecific eddy current heating. Conclusions MNPH provides an advantage to treat large tumors because the MION dose can be adjusted to increase power. Pulsed AMF, with adjusted treatment time, can enhance MNPH in challenging cases such as low MION dose in the target tissue and/or large patients by minimizing nonspecific eddy current heating without sacrificing thermal dose to the target. Nanoparticle heterogeneity in tumors remains a challenge for continued research.

Rotational dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles in different matrix systems

Abstract Dynamic magnetic measurements on magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) samples have been widely used for the determination of structural MNP parameters as well as for the realization of bioassays. On the other hand, proposed that the MNPs are thermally blocked, i.e., that the dynamics are dominated by the Brownian rotation, and knowing the distribution of their hydrodynamic size, information on the matrix properties can be obtained. In contrast to conventional rheology, the local environment of the MNPs is sensed on the nanoscale so that important information on the embedding of MNPs in the matrix and thus the particle-matrix interaction is obtained. Depending on the characteristic length scales of the matrix and the size of the MNPs, rheological parameters, such as viscosity and shear modulus, derived from nanorheological measurements can differ from the values obtained from conventional rheology. To measure the MNP dynamics, different experimental techniques can be applied. In this contribution, the focus lies on ac susceptometry and fluxgate magnetorelaxometry. The analysis of the complex ACS spectra is generally carried out within a modified Debye model. Different approaches for the estimation of rheological parameters from the complex ACS spectra will be presented. Two model systems will exemplarily be discussed in detail. As a Newtonian matrix system, water-glycerol mixtures were studied. It is demonstrated that the dynamic viscosity can accurately be estimated from ACS measurements on well thermally blocked single-core as well as on multicore MNP systems, which include Brownian and Néel dynamics. As a viscoelastic matrix system, aqueous gelatin solutions were studied. Gelatin is known to be a Voigt-Kelvin model system, in which elastic and viscous forces are parallel. In particular, we studied the gelation dynamics by repetitive measurements of the complex ACS spectrum. Different approaches to derive viscosity and shear modulus are applied and compared. In order to identify magnetoviscous effects in dynamic magnetic measurements, the magnetic field dependence of the Brownian relaxation time has to be eliminated. ACS measurements on various sufficiently strongly diluted aqueous MNP suspensions were performed in dependence of ac field amplitude and superimposed dc field strength and compared to theory. Excellent agreement was found.

Kinetics of field-induced phase separation of a magnetic colloid under rotating magnetic fields.

This paper is focused on the experimental and theoretical study of the phase separation of a magnetic nanoparticle suspension under rotating magnetic fields in a frequency range, 5 Hz ≤ ν ≤ 25 Hz, relevant for several biomedical applications. The phase separation is manifested through the appearance of needle-like dense particle aggregates synchronously rotating with the field. Their size progressively increases with time due to the absorption of individual nanoparticles (aggregate growth) and coalescence with neighboring aggregates. The aggregate growth is enhanced by the convection of nanoparticles toward rotating aggregates. The maximal aggregate length, Lmax ∝ ν-2, is limited by fragmentation arising as a result of their collisions. Experimentally, the aggregate growth and coalescence occur at a similar timescale, ∼1 min, weakly dependent on the field frequency. The proposed theoretical model provides a semi-quantitative agreement with the experiments on the average aggregate size, aggregation timescale, and size distribution function without any adjustable parameter.