Magnetic field design for efficient 3D-targeting of MNP complexes

In order to accurately position biological material and cells, it is a useful way to label those particles with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and target them via static or time-dependent magnetic fields. The aim of our work is to generate tailored magnetic fields to optimize the magnetic nanoparticle assisted gene transfer, cell positioning and drug targeting. The first step in the design of the magnetic field generators is the determination of the basic geometry using analytical equations. Subsequently, the geometry will be optimized by numerical field calculations. The trajectories of the magnetic nanoparticles have to be calculated with respect to the physiological boundary conditions like blood flow and pressure as well as size and geometry of the target tissue. It is possible to estimate the amount of particles which can be retained by the external magnetic field source at the target location. This is done by combining the numerical calculations of the magnetic field, structural mechanics and hydrodynamics within the target area with the magnetic and geometric properties of the particles or complexes. During all those consecutive steps we construct several prototypes of field generators which will be tested in experiments. According to these results we build static as well as time-dependent adequate magnetic field sources and optimize them and the underlying physical model in an iterative approach. We want to aspire a magnetic field that will be able to exactly transport and position nucleic acids, viral particles and magnetic nanoparticle labeled cells in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo.