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Imparting magnetic dipole heterogeneity to internalized iron oxide nanoparticles for microorganism swarm control
Journal article

Imparting magnetic dipole heterogeneity to internalized iron oxide nanoparticles for microorganism swarm control

Paul Seung Soo Kim, Aaron Becker, Yan Ou, Anak Agung Julius and Min Jun Kim
Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology, v 17(3), pp 1-15
17 Mar 2015

Abstract

Chemistry Chemistry, Multidisciplinary Materials Science Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Physical Sciences Science & Technology Science & Technology - Other Topics Technology
Tetrahymena pyriformis is a single cell eukaryote that can be modified to respond to magnetic fields, a response called magnetotaxis. Naturally, this microorganism cannot respond to magnetic fields, but after modification using iron oxide nanoparticles, cells are magnetized and exhibit a constant magnetic dipole strength. In experiments, a rotating field is applied to cells using a two-dimensional approximate Helmholtz coil system. Using rotating magnetic fields, we characterize discrete cells' swarm swimming which is affected by several factors. The behavior of the cells under these fields is explained in detail. After the field is removed, relatively straight swimming is observed. We also generate increased heterogeneity within a population of cells to improve controllability of a swarm, which is explored in a cell model. By exploiting this straight swimming behavior, we propose a method to control discrete cells utilizing a single global magnetic input. Successful implementation of this swarm control method would enable teams of microrobots to perform a variety of in vitro microscale tasks impossible for single microrobots, such as pushing objects or simultaneous micromanipulation of discrete entities.

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26 citations in Scopus

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
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