Magnetic Nanostructures Research Articles

Emergent topological quasiparticle kinetics in constricted nanomagnets

The ubiquitous domain wall kinetics under magnetic field or current application describes the dynamic properties in nanostructured magnets. However, when the geometrical size of a nanomagnetic system is constricted to the limiting domain wall length scale, the competing energetics between anisotropy, exchange, and dipolar interactions can cause emergent kinetics due to quasiparticle relaxation, similar to bulk magnets of atomic origin. This paper presents a joint experimental and theoretical study to support this argument: constricted nanomagnets, made of antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic neodymium thin film with honeycomb motif, reveal fast kinetic events at picosecond timescales due to the relaxation of topological quasiparticles that persist to low temperature in the absence of any external stimuli. This discovery is especially important considering the fact that paramagnets or antiferromagnets have no net magnetization. Yet, the kinetics in neodymium nanostructures is quantitatively similar to that found in ferromagnetic counterparts and only varies with the thickness of the specimen. This suggests that a universal, topological quasiparticle-mediated dynamical behavior can be prevalent in nanoscopic magnets, irrespective of the nature of the underlying magnetic material. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The Optical Forces and Torques Exerted by Airy Light-Sheet on Magnetic Particles Utilized for Targeted Drug Delivery

The remarkable properties of magnetic nanostructures have sparked considerable interest within the biomedical domain, owing to their potential for diverse applications. In targeted drug delivery systems, therapeutic molecules can be loaded onto magnetic nanocarriers and precisely guided and released within the body with the assistance of an externally applied magnetic field. However, conventional external magnetic fields generated by permanent magnets or electromagnets are limited by finite magnetic field gradients, shallow penetration depths, and low precision. The novel structured light field known as the Airy light-sheet possesses unique characteristics such as non-diffraction, self-healing, and self-acceleration, which can potentially overcome the limitations of traditional magnetic fields to some extent. While existing studies have primarily focused on the manipulation of dielectric particles by Airy light-sheet, comprehensive analyses exploring the intricate interplay between Airy light-sheet and magnetic nanostructures are currently lacking in the literature, with only preliminary theoretical discussions available. This study systematically explores the mechanical response of magnetic spherical particles under the influence of Airy light-sheet, including radiation forces and spin torques. Furthermore, we provide an in-depth analysis of the effects of particle size, permittivity, permeability, and incident light-sheet parameters on the mechanical effects. Our research findings not only offer new theoretical guidance and practical references for the application of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedicine but also provide valuable insights for the manipulation of other types of micro/nanoparticles using structured light fields.

Structure, morphology and crystallization behavior of PVDF/Co nanowire nanocomposites under horizontal and vertical magnetic fields

So far, very limited research has been carried out on the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composited with anisotropic magnetic nanostructures such as nanowires or nanorods, which can potentially provide specific reactions to magnetic fields. Here, single crystal Co nanowires (CNWs) with an average length and diameter of about 220 and 12nm, respectively, are synthesized using a solvothermal method, followed by adding them to PVDF matrix in order to prepare flexible PVDF/CNW nanocomposites by solvent casting and solution crystallization processes at room temperature. The nucleation and growth of PCNW nanocomposites are investigated in the absence and presence of horizontal and vertical magnetic fields. According to FESEM images, in addition to the direction of the applied magnetic field, the presence or absence of CNWs induces different effects on the size of spherulites and the configuration of polymer chains. By adding CNW to the PVDF matrix in the absence of a magnetic field and under a horizontal magnetic field, the size of the spherulites in the pure PVDF film increases about 67% (from 3 to 5 μm) and 300% (from 3 to 12 μm), respectively. Under a vertical magnetic field, the addition of CNW reduces the size of the spherulites to 1 μm, thereby forming a film with a combination of spherulites and filamentary structure likely due to the nanowire-nanowire, nanowire-chain and chain-chain interactions. Also non-contact flexible triboelectric nanogenerators of magnetic force are fabricated.

Manipulating dwell time and spin polarization via δ-doping for electrons in spin-orbit-coupling modulated magnetic nanostructure

With the help of atomic-layer doping technology, we theoretically explore how to use a δ-potential to manipulate a temporal electron-spin splitter (TESS), which is based on a spin-orbit-coupling (SOC) modulated magnetic nanostructure. Due to the SOC, the dwell time still depends on electron spins even if a δ-doping is embedded inside the TESS. Moreover, both the magnitude and sign of spin polarization ratio can be controlled by tuning the weight or position of the δ-doping. Therefore, a structurally manipulable TESS device can be obtained for semiconductor spintronic device applications.

Magnetic zinc ferrite nanostructures: Recent advancements for environmental and biomedical applications

Fabrication of spinel ferrite nanomaterials has gained immense attention in environmental and biomedical applications owing to their excellent magnetic properties. Among different spinel ferrites, zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) nanomaterials are promising transition metal oxide ferrites with excellent magnetic properties and biocompatibility. This review discusses the size and morphology-dependent physicochemical properties of ZnFe2O4 nanostructures and their correlation with the environmental and biomedical fields. Next, we provide a comprehensive overview of various synthesis and characterization techniques for fabricating ZnFe2O4 nanostructures. Examples of ZnFe2O4 nanomaterials and their nanocomposites used for environmental remediation, drug delivery, cancer theranostics, anticancer activity, imaging, biosensing, and gene therapy are further discussed. Finally, this review article offers insights into ZnFe2O4 nanostructures with their impacts, opportunities, and challenges for the future progress of environmental and biomedical applications.

Tailoring the Wettability of Bacterial Cellulose Magnetobots via the Assembly of In Situ Synthesized and Surfactant-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles.

This study showcases the possibility of tailoring the wettability of magnetic bacterial cellulose (m-BC) composites by the combined effect of in situ synthesized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) distribution and simultaneous oleic acid (OA) coating within the BC matrix. This combined effect of MNPs and OA resulted in m-BC composites exhibiting solvent-dependent and time-dependent surface-wetting behavior, which was not observed in either individual cases of BC that have been modified with OA or BC that has MNPs adsorbed on its fibers. This tailored wettability in m-BCs was achieved via varying the concentrations of iron precursors, which governed the arrangement and morphology of MNPs (uniformly or clustered) on the BC membrane, although the same fraction of MNPs was observed in both the m-BCs. Finally, we have achieved delayed water absorption in m-BC_x (synthesized in a comparatively lower precursor concentration) and no absorption of water in m-BC_4x (synthesized in a 4-times-higher precursor concentration). The m-BC_4x composite maintained its hydrophobic characteristics in diverse environments, ranging from highly acidic conditions (pH 1.2) to physiological environments at pH 4, 5.5, and 7.4. The MNP agglomerates on the BC nanofibers in the m-BC_4x composite were found to be instrumental in attaining a stable cyclic absorption performance with structural integrity. Additionally, the magnetic-inducing heat generation efficiency of the m-BCs can be extended for evaporating low-boiling-point solvents. The present study expands the frontiers of BC-based magnetic composites by emphasizing the assembly of surfactant-coated magnetic nanostructures in their responsiveness to polar/nonpolar liquids with stable performance even in complex scenarios.

Mirror-coupled plasmonic nanostructures for enhanced in-plane magnetic dipole emission

Abstract Self-assembling of plasmonic nanoparticles into an oligomer can produce optical nanoantennas with resonant magnetic responses, which constitutes a promising platform to study magnetic light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. However, these self-assembled magnetic nanostructures typically feature a flat-lying geometric configuration, giving rise to out-of-plane magnetic dipole (MD) moments that cannot couple to the far-field light efficiently. Herein, we propose a new geometric configuration of plasmonic nanoantennas to realize in-plane MD responses. This is achieved by elegantly coupling a plasmonic nanoparticle oligomer to one or more adjacent metal mirrors, virtually forming a vertically standing nanoparticle tetramer or trimer, yet with in-plane MD moments. We verified this design strategy by numerically simulating the resonance responses of three typical mirror-coupled nanostructures, all exhibiting pronounced resonant MD characters. Furthermore, optical magnetic emitters can be readily coupled to these plasmonic nanoantennas and gain an emission enhancement of two orders of magnitude while simultaneously featuring a high emission directionality (collection efficiency up to ∼ 70 % evaluated with common microscopy optics). We believe these mirror-enabled magnetic nanoantennas could lead to novel nanophotonic devices fully exploiting the magnetic nature of light.

Chemical Design of Spin Frustration to Realize Topological Spin Glasses.

Patterning spins to generate collective behavior is at the core of condensed matter physics. Physicists develop techniques, including the fabrication of magnetic nanostructures and precision layering of materials specifically to engender frustrated lattices. As chemists, we can access such exotic materials through targeted chemical synthesis and create new lattice types by chemical design. Here, we introduce a new approach to induce magnetic frustration on a modified honeycomb lattice through a competition of alternating antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) nearest-neighbor interactions. By subtly modulating these two types of interactions through facile synthetic modifications, we created two systems: (1) a topological spin glass and (2) a frustrated spin-canted magnet with low-temperature exchange bias. To design this unconventional magnetic lattice, we used a metal-organic framework (MOF) platform, Ni3(pymca)3X3 (NipymcaX where pymca = pyrimidine-2-carboxylato and X = Cl, Br). We isolated two MOFs, NipymcaCl and NipymcaBr, featuring canted Ni2+-based moments. Despite this similarity, differences in the single-ion anisotropies of the Ni2+ spins result in distinct magnetic properties for each material. NipymcaCl is a topological spin glass, while NipymcaBr is a rare frustrated magnet with low-temperature exchange bias. Density functional theory calculations and Monte Carlo simulations on the NipymcaX lattice support the presence of magnetic frustration as a result of alternating AFM and FM interactions. Our calculations enabled us to determine the ground-state spin configuration and the distribution of spin-spin correlations relative to paradigmatic kagomé and triangular lattices. This modified honeycomb lattice is similar to the electronic Kekulé-O phase in graphene and provides a highly tunable platform to realize unconventional spin physics.

Spin-torque vortex-oscillator with modified saturation magnetization in ferromagnetic nanodots

Recent years have seen greater interest in manipulating vortex states in magnetic nanostructures for non-volatile memory and logic networks. We show how reducing saturation magnetization locally in ferromagnetic thick nanodot vortex-based spin-torque nano-oscillators modulates their frequency using micromagnetic simulations. When a spin-polarized current and a static in-plane magnetic field are applied to the vortex core of an isolated thick nanodot, the uniform gyrotropic modes and the first higher-order gyrotropic mode resonate at different frequencies in various saturation magnetization areas. The intensity of the first higher-order mode gets almost suppressed in areas with modified saturation magnetization. With linewidths ranging from 25 to 70 MHz with the considered dimensions, these small spin-torque vortex-oscillator devices made of thick Permalloy nanodots seem promising for use in gigahertz signal processing. Our study suggests that locally modifying saturation magnetization may be a cost-effective technique to build dense oscillator and array networks for neuromorphic computing without lithographical fabrication stages.

Simulation of quantum states in solid-state ferromagnetic nanostructures

Purpose of the article. Identification and analysis of mathematical expressions for the energy spectrum of charge carriers in nano-sized magnetic films of nickel and Ni-Cu (substrate), as well as NiO-Ni-Cu (substrate) structures.Methods. In this work, based on basic quantum mechanical concepts and taking into account the boundary conditions for coupled quantum wells, expressions for the energy spectrum of electrons are obtained. The ferrimagnetic properties of nickel are taken into account through the effective mass value. The solution of nonlinear equations that determine discrete energy levels was achieved by numerical methods using the Mathcad mathematical package.Results. Transcendental expressions for the energies of free charge carriers in quantum wells of ferromagnetic nickel films are obtained, and the influence of the position of nickel on the copper substrate is shown. It has been shown that the use of a copper substrate leads to an increase in the density of energy levels in the nickel nanofilm. The influence of the oxide layer on single-electron states in nanofilms of nickel and its oxide is considered within the framework of the Anderson model. Based on the numerical solution of the transcendental equations obtained in the work, the influence of the ratio of the thicknesses of a ferromagnetic metal and its oxide on the energy levels of electrons localized in the oxide layer is shown.Conclusions. The formulas presented in the work for the energy spectrum take into account the energy relief of a complex quantum well, the dimensions of the film, surface oxide, and the significant effective mass in the region of the ferromagnetic film. It has been shown that an increase in the effective mass in magnetic heterostructures leads to an increase in the electron density of states. It was found that the density of electronic states in the region of surface nickel oxide is practically independent of the thickness of the nickel film. The results and conclusions of the work can be used for theoretical prediction of the physical properties of magnetic nanostructures, in particular spintronic elements.

Toward 3D magnetic force microscopy: Simultaneous torsional cantilever excitation to access a second, orthogonal stray field component

Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) is long established as a powerful tool for probing the local stray fields of magnetic nanostructures across a range of temperatures and applied stimuli. A major drawback of the technique, however, is that the detection of stray fields emanating from a sample’s surface rely on a uniaxial vertical cantilever oscillation, and thus are only sensitive to vertically oriented stray field components. The last two decades have shown an ever-increasing literature fascination for exotic topological windings where particular attention to in-plane magnetic moment rotation is highly valuable when identifying and understanding such systems. Here, we present a method of detecting in-plane magnetic stray field components, by utilizing a split-electrode excitation piezo that allows the simultaneous excitation of a cantilever at its fundamental flexural and torsional modes. This allows for the joint acquisition of traditional vertical mode images and a lateral MFM where the tip–cantilever system is only sensitive to stray fields acting perpendicular to the torsional axis of the cantilever.

Stable Magnetite@La-Fe Oxide Core-Shell Nanostructures Prepared via Lattice Lock for Reusable Extraction of Phosphate Anions.

Stable magnetic core-shell nanostructures are developed by lattice locking lanthanide-iron (La-Fe) oxide shells with magnetite cores to prevent the release of La from the surfaces of the magnetite nanostructures. The resulting core-shell nanostructures demonstrate excellent outstanding regeneration performance and high adsorption capacity for phosphate (115 mg P·g-1). These nanostructures release minimal La from the magnetite core surfaces after adsorbent regeneration, with a La loss of only 20% compared to the control sample, Mag@La(OH)3. La3+ ions were released at concentrations ranging from 1 to 2.3 μg·L-1 at pH levels of 4 to 8, which is within the metal content range found in natural aquatic environments. These results demonstrate the high stability of the nanostructures after regeneration. Furthermore, the adsorbent exhibits high extraction capacity across a wide pH range of 4 to 10 and performs well even in the presence of interfering anions at phosphate-to-anion molar ratios of 1:5, 1:25, and 1:100. Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses reveal that the primary extraction mechanism of phosphate in the La-containing shells is surface precipitation. This approach not only improves the use of magnetic core-shell nanostructures as adsorbents but also demonstrates the creation of a broad range of stable magnetic functional materials for diverse applications.

Bias-controllable temporal electron-spin splitter based on a magnetic nanostructure

Applying a bias along electronic transport direction, we theoretically investigate the control of a temporal electron-spin splitter (TESS), which can be realized experimentally by patterning a horizontally-magnetized ferromagnetic stripe on the surface of InAs/AlxIn1-xAs heterostructure. Due to the spin-field interaction, dwell time for electron in this TESS device is still spin related, even if a bias is applied. Thus, electron spins are separable in time dimension, giving rise to an obvious electron-spin polarization effect. Besides, both magnitude and sign of spin polarization ratio can be tuned by changing bias, leading to an electrically-controllable TESS as a tunable electron-spin polarized source for semiconductor spintronic device applications.

The electron resistance of a single skyrmion within ballistic approach

An alternative way of skyrmion quasi-particle detection is simulated at low voltage bias. The point contact (PC), attached to the strip with a Néel-type skyrmion, can detect it with a higher efficiency than a magnetic tunnel junction. The method is based on detecting the skyrmion via the ballistic magnetoresistance ratio (BRR). PC's resistance with skyrmion significantly differs from the one without it. BRR is estimated in the framework of the point contact model for two directions of spin-polarized current: perpendicular to the transport direction (case 1) and along one (case 2). Skyrmion's size is assumed to be around 3.6 nm in diameter—smaller, or comparable, to the mean free path of electrons, allowing it to utilize the ballistic transport approach. As a result, resistance values for the considered Néel type skyrmion within the related size are estimated as 157 Ω for case 1 and 452.2 Ω for case 2 with optimistic BRR 101.3% and 291.7%, respectively. BRR for case 2 is higher due to the spin-filtering effect. The method also has the potential to detect the skyrmion type, or other magnetic nano structures such as bimeron, domain wall (DW), etc.

Formation and culture of cell spheroids by using magnetic nanostructures resembling a crown of thorns

In contrast to traditional two-dimensional cell-culture conditions, three-dimensional (3D) cell-culture models closely mimic complexin vivoconditions. However, constructing 3D cell culture models still faces challenges. In this paper, by using micro/nano fabrication method, including lithography, deposition, etching, and lift-off, we designed magnetic nanostructures resembling a crown of thorns. This magnetic crown of thorns (MCT) nanostructure enables the isolation of cells that have endocytosed magnetic particles. To assess the utility of this nanostructure, we used high-flux acquisition of Jurkat cells, an acute-leukemia cell line exhibiting the native phenotype, as an example. The novel structure enabled Jurkat cells to form spheroids within just 30 min by leveraging mild magnetic forces to bring together endocytosed magnetic particles. The size, volume, and arrangement of these spheroids were precisely regulated by the dimensions of the MCT nanostructure and the array configuration. The resulting magnetic cell clusters were uniform in size and reached saturation after 1400 s. Notably, these cell clusters could be easily separated from the MCT nanostructure through enzymatic digestion while maintaining their integrity. These clusters displayed a strong proliferation rate and survival capabilities, lasting for an impressive 96 h. Compared with existing 3D cell-culture models, the approach presented in this study offers the advantage of rapid formation of uniform spheroids that can mimicin vivomicroenvironments. These findings underscore the high potential of the MCT in cell-culture models and magnetic tissue enginerring.

(Invited) Nitrogen Based Solid State Magneto-Ionics

Solid-state magneto-ionic (MI) effects have shown promise for energy-efficient nanoelectronics, where ionic migration may be used to achieve atomic-scale control of interfaces in magnetic nanostructures. To date, magneto-ionics have been mostly explored in oxygen-based systems [1-4], while there is a surge of interest in alternative ionic systems due to their different ionic migration mechanisms and characteristics [5-7].We have recently demonstrated effective MI control of magnetic functionalities using a variety of ionic species, particularly nitrogen. In nitride-based Ta/CoFe/MnN/Ta films, the chemically induced MI effect is combined with the electric field driving of nitrogen to electrically manipulate exchange bias [8]. Upon field-cooling the heterostructure, ionic diffusion of nitrogen from MnN into the Ta layers occurs. A significant exchange bias is observed, which can be further enhanced by ~ 20% after voltage conditioning (Figs. 1a-1e). This enhancement can be reversed by voltage conditioning with an opposite polarity. Nitrogen migration within the MnN layer and into the Ta capping layer causes the enhancement in exchange bias, which is observed in polarized neutron reflectometry studies.We have also achieved all-nitride-based magneto-ionic systems [9]. Thin films of (001)-ordered Mn4N are grown by sputtering Mn onto Mn3N2 seed layer on Si (100) substrate. Nitrogen ion migration across the Mn3N2 /Mn layers leads to a continuous evolution of the layers to Mn3N2 /Mn4N, Mn2N/Mn4N, and eventually Mn4N alone (Figs. 1f-1g). Furthermore, we have demonstrated MI control of the exchange bias effect in an all-nitride Mn4N/MnNx system, where the field-trained exchange field can be varied up to ten times by introducing or extracting nitrogen from the nitride system. This is achieved by adjusting the nitrogen gas partial pressure during deposition or varying annealing temperature after deposition.These effects demonstrate contrasts with oxygen-based MI effects in terms of operating principles, switching speed, and reversibility. Such MI systems are valuable platforms to gain quantitative understanding at buried interfaces. They also offer potentials for device applications based on electric modulation of magnetic functionalities.This work has been supported in part by the NSF (ECCS-2151809, DMR-2005108, DMR-1828420), SRC/NIST SMART Center, and KAUST.[1] U. Bauer et al., Nat. Mater. 14, 174 (2015).[2] C. Bi et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 267202 (2014).[3] D. A. Gilbert et al., Nat. Commun. 7, 11050 (2016).[4] G. Chen et al., Sci. Adv. 6, eaba4924 (2020).[5] A. J. Tan et al., Nat. Mater. 18, 35 (2019).[6] G. Chen et al., Phys. Rev. X 11, 021015 (2021).[7] J. de Rojas et al., Nat. Commun. 11, 5871 (2020).[8] C. J. Jensen et al., ACS Nano 17, 6745 (2023).[9] Z. J. Chen et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 123, 082403 (2023). Figure 1

(Invited) The Influence of Magnetic Fields on the Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalyzed By Cobalt-Iron Oxide Nanowire Arrays

To mitigate climate change through the establishment of a renewable energy infrastructure, advancements in energy storage technologies are imperative. Electrochemical water splitting via electrolyzers enables the conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy. However, the performance of these devices, particularly that of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurring at the anode, still needs to be improved. Previous studies have demonstrated that magnetic fields can induce convective flow to the electrode through Lorentz and Kelvin force effects, thereby improving the mass transport.[1] In contrast to the Lorentz force, the Kelvin force can be substantially increased by introducing magnetic nanostructures to create high magnetic field gradients in the vicinity of the electrode surface.[2] Given the magnetic properties inherent to many earth-abundant metal-based and nanostructured electrocatalysts promising for the OER, there is potential for intelligently designing electrodes to leverage magnetic field effects in the future. However, a comprehensive understanding of these magnetic field effects is currently lacking. In the scope of this work, we aimed to systematically investigate the influence of magnetic fields on the oxygen evolution reaction. Considering the substantial magnetic field gradients generated by magnetic nanowires, we fabricated arrays of freestanding cobalt-iron oxide nanowires to explore the influence of magnetic fields on the oxygen evolution reaction catalyzed by these nanostructured electrocatalysts. Templated electrodeposition of cobalt-iron alloy into the pores of anodic aluminum oxide membranes enabled a straightforward control over nanowire diameter and length. Subsequent removal of the aluminum oxide template in alkaline solution yielded cobalt-iron oxide nanowires composed to 60% of Fe and 40% of Co standing freely on an electrochemically stable gold substrate. Superimposing a magnetic field during water oxidation on the so-prepared nanowire arrays resulted in an increase in the measured oxidation current (see Figure). To deconvolute the contributions of the Lorentz and Kelvin force, experiments were conducted in two different magnetic field orientations: either parallel or perpendicular to the electrode surface. In the parallel orientation, a linear correlation between the increase in current and the strength of the applied magnetic field was observed. In contrast, when the magnetic field was aligned perpendicular to the electrode surface, a plateau in the current enhancement manifested at higher magnetic field strengths, indicating different dominant effects in the two configurations.[1] K. Ngamchuea, K. Tschulik, R. G. Compton, Magnetic control: Switchable ultrahigh magnetic gradients at Fe3O4 nanoparticles to enhance solution-phase mass transport, Nano Res. 2015, 8, 3293–3306.[2] L. M. Monzon, J. Coey, Magnetic fields in electrochemistry: The Kelvin force. A mini-review, Electrochem. commun. 2014, 42, 42–45. Figure 1

Exploring double-diffusive convection in ferromagnetic Carreau nanofluid with magnetic dipole: Insights for solar thermal systems over plate, wedge, and stagnation

The use of ferromagnetic Carreau nanofluid in solar thermal systems enhances heat transfer and magnetic effects, optimizing solar collector design, improving solar power efficiency, and innovating nanofluid-based solar heaters and energy storage. Magnetic nanostructures significantly impact viscosity and thermophysical properties, influencing Ferrofluids' magneto-viscous nature. The investigation illustrates double-diffusive convection in radiative flow past three different geometries of ferromagnetic Carreau nanofluid, emphasizing the novel discussion of diffuse-thermal and thermo-diffusion impacts. Numerical solutions are obtained using the shooting technique with the Runge-Kutta fourth-order approach. Graphs and numerical data in tables depict the impacts of pertinent parameters. The study reveals that the radiation parameter, Soret parameter, and Dufour parameter contribute to temperature improvement as they are enhanced. These findings showcase the potential for advancing solar thermal systems through the utilization of ferromagnetic Carreau nanofluid, offering insights for sustainable solar energy applications. As the thermophoresis parameter increases from 0.001 to 0.005, the percentage change in the Nusselt number decreases for all three locations: Plate (0.90 %–0.66 %), Wedge (0.77 %–0.62 %), and Stagnation Point (0.62 %–0.54 %). This indicates that while the absolute values of the Nusselt numbers increase, the rate of change becomes smaller as increases.

Comparative In Vitro Study between Biocompatible Chitosan-Based Magnetic Nanocapsules and Liposome Formulations with Potential Application in Anti-Inflammatory Therapy.

This study describes the comparison between the interaction of a series of peptide-functionalized chitosan-based nanocapsules and liposomes with two cell lines, i.e., mouse macrophages RAW 264.7 and human endothelial cells EA.hy926. Both types of nanocarriers are loaded with magnetic nanoparticles and designed for anti-inflammatory therapy. The choice of these magnetic nanostructures is argued based on their advantages in terms of size, morphology, chemical composition, and the multiple possibilities of modifying their surface. Moreover, active targeting might be ensured by using an external magnetic field. To explore the impact of chitosan-based nanocapsules and liposomes on cell cytophysiology, the cell viability, using the MTT assay, and cell morphology were investigated. The results revealed low to moderate cytotoxicity of free nanocapsules and significant cytotoxicity induced by chitosan-coated liposomes loaded with dexamethasone, confirming its release from the delivery system. Thus, after 48 h of treatment with nanocapsules, the viability of RAW 264.7 cells varied between 88.18% (OCNPM-1I, 3.125 µg/mL) and 76.37% (OCNPM-1, 25 µg/mL). In the same conditions, EA.hy926 cell viability was between 99.91% (OCNPM-3, 3.125 µg/mL) and 75.15% (OCNPM-3, 25 µg/mL) at the highest dose (25 µg/mL), the values being comparable for both cell lines. Referring to the cell reactivity after dexamethasone-loaded liposome application, the lowest viability of RAW 264.7 cells was 41.25% (CLDM5CP-1, 25 µg/mL) and 58.20% (CLDMM2CP-1 1.25 µg/mL) in the endothelial cell line, proving a selective character of action of nanocarriers. The cell morphology test, performed to support and confirm the results obtained by the MTT test, revealed a differentiated response for the two types of nano-carriers. As expected, an intense cytotoxic effect in the case of dexamethasone-loaded liposomes and a lack of cytotoxicity for drug-free nanocapsules were noticed. Therefore, our study demonstrated the biocompatible feature of the studied nanocarriers, which highlights them for future research as potential drug delivery systems for pharmacological applications, including anti-inflammatory therapy.

First-principles study of electronic and magnetic properties of Fe atoms on Cu2N/Cu(100)

Abstract First-principles calculations were conducted to investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of single Fe atoms and Fe dimers on Cu2N/Cu(100). Upon adsorption of an Fe atom onto Cu2N/Cu(100), robust Fe–N bonds form, resulting in the incorporation of both single Fe atoms and Fe dimers within the surface Cu2N layer. The partial occupancy of Fe-3d orbitals lead to large spin moments on the Fe atoms. Interestingly, both single Fe atoms and Fe dimers exhibit in-plane magnetic anisotropy, with the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of an Fe dimer exceeding twice that of a single Fe atom. This magnetic anisotropy can be attributed to the predominant contribution of the component along the x direction of the spin–orbital coupling Hamiltonian. Additionally, the formation of Fe–Cu dimers may further boost the magnetic anisotropy, as the energy levels of the Fe-3d orbitals are remarkably influenced by the presence of Cu atoms. Our study manifests the significance of uncovering the origin of magnetic anisotropy in engineering the magnetic properties of magnetic nanostructures.