Photo of the Month Archive2008 Archive
Quantitative Magnetic Nanoparticle Detection by Nonlinear Magnetization
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Petr and Max Nikitin developed a highly sensitive and quantitative method of measuring magnetic nanoparticles in biological tissues and blood. The new system compared very well to radioactive Fe-59 measurements in a rat performed by Torno, Chen and Rosengart (see Figure). Their sensitivity is good enough to measure just a few nanograms of magnetic nanoparticles in 0.1 ml volume! Read more about it in the Journal of Applied Physics at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2830947.
Korean Institute Inquiry Prompts Two Retractions
Published online 19 March 2008 | Nature 452, 267 (2008) | doi:10.1038/452267c
A team led by a senior South Korean scientist is retracting two papers, in Science and Nature Chemical Biology, following a university investigation into the research.
Tae Kook Kim, of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, had reported a new method for imaging living cells that used magnetized nanoparticles (J. Won et al. Science 309, 121–125 ; 2005, and J. Won et al. Nature Chem. Biol. 2, 369–374 ; 2006). KAIST's investigation is ongoing, but last month it reported preliminary findings that the "scientific truth" of the papers was in question. Investigators are also probing whether misconduct is involved.
Terry Sheppard, editor of Nature Chemical Biology, says that the KAIST investigation team told him that the authors wanted to retract the paper. The retraction, he notes, will occur "as soon as possible". Science also confirms that the team is working to retract its paper
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Microfluidic Separations and Assays
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Exploring Nanomagnetics to Fight Disease
Don Ingber, MD, PhD, and Robert Mannix, PhD, at Children's Hospital (Boston) working with Mara Prentiss, PhD, a Harvard University physicist, are exploring how nanomagnetics might fight disease at the single-cell level. Researchers have found nanobeads can be magnetized, and 'pull' cell receptors into large clusters, mimicking what happens when drugs or other molecules bind to them. The nano-magnets also trigger a cell's biochemical signals and impact internal functions. Details
Magnetic Control of Liquid Colour
Researchers at the University of California have discovered it is possible to control the colour of iron oxide particles suspended in water. Varying the strength of an external magnetic field changes the arrangement of the iron oxide particles causing this effect. This research may have important effects on current and future electronic devices including electronic displays and magnetic rewrittable paper/ink.
Check out the full story and movie Here.
Magnetic microchip-based detection of magnetic particles
Mark Tondra wrote an interesting article about the use of microchip-based detection of magnetic particles. He reviews existing magnetic bioassay detection applications and presents possible directions for new development in the detection of immobilized magnetic-assay labels. In addition, his article examines concepts relating to the integration of magnetic detection in microfluidic systems. More...
Exciting New Equipment: Magnetic Nanoparticle Analyzer
Biochemical assays based on magnetic nanoparticles as markers offer a very sensitive, fast detection of chemicals in biology and biochemistry. The magnetic
nanoparticle analyzer represents a new comfortable laboratory tool for the sensitive quantitative detection and the fast and comprehensive characterization of magnetic nanoparticles as markers for quality control in biological and biochemical laboratories.
For more information, please check here.
Biomagnetic sensors in the press
A team led by Dr. Richard Larson of the University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center and Ed Flynn of Senior Scientific LLC is investigating the potential of bio-magnetic sensors for early detection of disease or organ rejection.
The super-sensitive sensors can detect cancer cells in far smaller concentrations than current technology can — meaning earlier detection and treatment, they say.
"My bottom line is it's much more sensitive, (spotting) fewer cells at a much earlier stage of the disease," Larson said. "You could detect cancer or Alzheimer's noninvasively. We can't do that right now." Read more...
Japan to launch long-distance commercial service of super-fast magnetic trains
Magnetic trains zooming at a landscape-blurring 500 kilometers (310 miles) an hour will connect Tokyo and Nagoya by 2025, one of Japan's biggest railway operators said Friday.
The new magnetically levitated, or "maglev," trains would slash the 100-minute travel time down the country's busiest transportation corridor and are envisioned as a successor for Japan's iconic bullet trains, or shinkansen, first introduced to the world in 1964.
Currently, China is the only country running a commercial high-speed magnetic levitation train service, running from Shanghai's financial district to its main international airport.
The line will be operated by Central Japan Railway Co., known for its pointy-nosed white and blue shinkansen. Skimming over a guideway on powerful magnetic fields without touching the track, maglevs are among the world's fastest trains, and Japan's has clocked a world record speed of up to 581 kilometers (360 miles) per hour.
More information about maglev trains is available through Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_train.
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