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

Abstract

Soubir Basak1, David Brogan2, Hans Dietrich2, Rogers Ritter3, Ralph G Dacey2, Pratim Biswas11Aerosol 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, USAAbstract: 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