Acoustomagnetics: proof of concept

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) play a pivotal role in various medical applications, including manipulating biomolecules, targeted drug delivery, and hyperthermia treatment. MNPs can undergo functionalization or be loaded with additional payloads to carry out specialized functions in treatment, sensing, or imaging. External sensing devices can detect the response of mobile magnetic nanoparticles in a stationary magnetic field. Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is an emerging imaging technique that holds the potential for directly visualizing MNPs within the body. However, its clinical applications encounter limitations due to restricted penetration depth caused by substantial electromagnetic damping effects and the necessity for large, energy-intensive installations. To address these challenges, we leverage acoustic waves to stimulate the MNPs, aiming to overcome these limitations. A notable distinction in the acquired signal is observed when the DC-field is switched on.