Magnetic capturing and guiding of magnetite-polyvinyl alcohol ferrofluids for targeted drug delivery

We presented some results concerning the targeting/capture and guidance of the colloidal magnetic particles (MP) in/through simulated blood vessels/tissues. A bipolar magnetic device was used to investigate the capture of MP in capillary tubes at flow velocities similar to those encountered in the capillary beds of tumors. The capture was influenced by the gradient of the magnetic field, the flow velocity, the concentration and surface properties of the MP. The physical guidance of the MP through simulated tissues was also investigated and it depends on the magnetic field, the MP properties and the interstitial space between the cells.