Permanent magnet systems to study the interaction between magnetic nanoparticles and cells in microslide channels

TL;DR

This paper presents optimized permanent magnet systems for studying magnetic nanoparticle interactions with cells in microslide channels, achieving uniform forces and high force densities for biological experiments.

Contribution

The authors designed and validated two magnet systems with different force and uniformity characteristics, including open-source tools for adaptation and further research.

Findings

Uniform force density of 6 MN/m³ with <14% variation

Over tenfold increase in force density using Halbach array

Demonstrated effects on HepG2 cell viability with magnetic nanoparticles

Abstract

We optimized designs of permanent magnet systems to study the effect of magnetic nanoparticles on cell cultures in microslide channels. This produced two designs, one of which is based on a large cylindrical magnet that applies a uniform force density of 6 MN/m$^3$ on soft magnetic iron-oxide spherical nanoparticles at a field strength of over 300 mT. We achieved a force uniformity of better than 14% over the channel area leading to a concentration variation that was below our measurement resolution. The second design was aimed at maximizing the force by using a Halbach array. We indeed increased the force by more than one order of magnitude at force density values over 400 MN/m$^3$, but at the cost of uniformity. However, the latter system can be used to trap magnetic nanoparticles efficiently and to create concentration gradients. We demonstrated both designs by analyzing the effect of magnetic forces on the cell viability of human hepatoma HepG2 cells in the presence of bare Fe$_2$O$_3$ and cross-linked dextran iron-oxide cluster-type particles (MicroMod). Python scripts for magnetic force calculations and particle trajectory modeling as well as source files for 3D prints have been made available so these designs can be easily adapted and optimized for other geometries.