Magnetic nanoparticle-driven pumping in microchannels

We have demonstrated the ability to increase fluid flow rates in microchannels using magnetic nanoparticles that are suspended in the fluid. A magnetic circuit was fabricated to generate a magnetic field gradient and results showed that for |nablaB| ~ 3 T/m, the fluid velocity near the channel edge increased 30 mum/sec. At |nablaB| ~ 5 T/m, the fluid velocity increased 10 - 80 mum/sec from near the edge to the center of the channel.