Exploiting Size-Dependent Drag and Magnetic Forces for Size-Specific Separation of Magnetic Nanoparticles

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Hunter B. Rogers¹  Tareq Anani¹  Young Suk Choi¹  Ronald J. Beyers²  Allan E. David¹ 

[1] Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; E-Mails:;Auburn University MRI Research Center, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: field-flow fractionation;    iron oxide nanoparticles;    size separation;    magnetic nanoparticles;    nanomedicine;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms160820001

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Realizing the full potential of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in nanomedicine requires the optimization of their physical and chemical properties. Elucidation of the effects of these properties on clinical diagnostic or therapeutic properties, however, requires the synthesis or purification of homogenous samples, which has proved to be difficult. While initial simulations indicated that size-selective separation could be achieved by flowing magnetic nanoparticles through a magnetic field, subsequent in vitro experiments were unable to reproduce the predicted results. Magnetic field-flow fractionation, however, was found to be an effective method for the separation of polydisperse suspensions of iron oxide nanoparticles with diameters greater than 20 nm. While similar methods have been used to separate magnetic nanoparticles before, no previous work has been done with magnetic nanoparticles between 20 and 200 nm. Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis were used to confirm the size of the MNPs. Further development of this work could lead to MNPs with the narrow size distributions necessary for their in vitro and in vivo optimization.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.