Magnetic nanoparticles (magnetic liquids) represent a new class of materials with wide-ranging application potential in both the technical and medical fields. Magnetic liquids, so-called ferrofluids, are stable colloidal suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles in a suitable carrier liquid that can interact with external magnetic fields. These particles must be physiologically neutral and toxicologically safe for applications in biological systems.
Our magnetic nanoparticles consist of a magnetic core based on iron oxide (magnetite and/or maghemite) with an average core diameter of approx. 10 nm. The core is coated with a biocompatible matrix, which has two basic functions. On one hand, it stabilizes the magnetic nuclei, and on the other hand it allows the immobilization of biologically active substances, in particular proteins (e.g. antibodies) and nucleic acids (oligonucleotides), but also marker molecules (dyes).
Such functionalized magnetic nanoparticles can interact with receptors on cell surfaces, or they can also be introduced into the cell interior via cellular uptake mechanisms. Thus, magnetic nanoparticles open up a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The shell material for our particles is primarily based on biocompatible, functionalized dextran derivatives such as carboxymethyldextran (CMD) and aminodextran (AMD), respectively.
Dr. Kerstin Wagner
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Phone: +49 3641 282555