New magnetic herding technique proposed to manipulate colloids in the body
June 22, 2005 | Source: KurzweilAI
Engineers have introduced a new magnetic shepherding approach for moving or positioning colloidal materials within organisms.
The “magnetic nanoparticle assembler” technique uses nanoscale “magnetic traps” consisting of suspended magnetic nanoparticles and a controllable external applied magnetic field. The nanoparticles act as nanoscale “tugboats” to push and pull comparatively large beads of colloids.
Potential applications range from the speedier assembly of molecules for biosensors or hybridization experiments, to precision arrangements of cells, bacteria and viruses in futuristic medical diagnostic devices, to the assembly of advanced microelectronic components, such as nanowire transistors.