On-Chip Magnetic Nanoparticle Manipulation and Trapping for Biomedical Applications

Biomedical applications and point-of-use devices often rely on nanoparticle concentration strategies. In this paper, on-chip magnetic trapping and manipulation of 300–500 nm superparamagnetic nanoparticles are achieved using thin-film planar circular copper coils. The trap configuration combining a central coil surrounded by four other coils, all connected in series, successfully enables simultaneous attraction and repulsion, enhancing concentration of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP). The simultaneous attraction and repulsion has advantages over static permanent magnets, where unidirectional actuation allows either attraction or repulsion. Because the distance between traps and the MNP is large (hundred micrometer), large electric currents up to 500 mA are needed to achieve fields of the order of hundreds of microtesla, which requires thermal management. Joule heating is effectively tackled by resorting to a novel cooling scheme comprising triangular microchannels milled onto copper substrates. Experimental results combining thermal surface mapping, magnetic field mapping, and optical (fluorescence microscope) observations could validate the trapping efficacy of Estapor microspheres functionalized with BODIPY 515 fluorophores.