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Title: Biofunctionalized magnetic vortex microdisks for targeted cancer cell destruction.

Journal Article · · Nature Mater.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/NMAT2591· OSTI ID:979881

Nanomagnetic materials offer exciting avenues for probing cell mechanics and activating mechanosensitive ion channels, as well as for advancing cancer therapies. Most experimental works so far have used superparamagnetic materials. This report describes a first approach based on interfacing cells with lithographically defined microdiscs that possess a spin-vortex ground state. When an alternating magnetic field is applied the microdisc vortices shift, creating an oscillation, which transmits a mechanical force to the cell. Because reduced sensitivity of cancer cells toward apoptosis leads to inappropriate cell survival and malignant progression, selective induction of apoptosis is of great importance for the anticancer therapeutic strategies. We show that the spin-vortex-mediated stimulus creates two dramatic effects: compromised integrity of the cellular membrane, and initiation of programmed cell death. A low-frequency field of a few tens of hertz applied for only ten minutes was sufficient to achieve {approx}90% cancer-cell destruction in vitro.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
979881
Report Number(s):
ANL/MSD/JA-65296; TRN: US201011%%446
Journal Information:
Nature Mater., Vol. 9, Issue 2 ; 2010
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH