Unshielded Portable Gradiometer Setup for the Characterization of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Flow Condition

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Giuseppe Barbieri - , Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) (Autor:in)
  • Johan Arbustini - , Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) (Autor:in)
  • Eric Elzenheimer - , Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) (Autor:in)
  • Frank Wiekhorst - , Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) (Autor:in)
  • Patricia Radon - , Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) (Autor:in)
  • Alexander Teplyuk - , Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) (Autor:in)
  • Robert Rieger - , Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) (Autor:in)
  • Andreas Bahr - , Professur für Biomedizinische Elektronik (Autor:in)
  • Michael Höft - , Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) (Autor:in)
  • Martina Gerken - , Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU) (Autor:in)

Abstract

Noninvasive monitoring of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is gaining increasing importance in the biomedical field. Applications such as drug delivery, contrast imaging, and protein detection require the development of precise and robust experimental setups that closely replicate realistic and physiological conditions. In this study, we investigate the detection and quantification of MNPs under dynamic flow conditions using an unshielded and portable gradiometer setup designed for potential in vivo applications. With its large possible detection area, the setup provides a versatile and adaptable platform for evaluating MNP behavior also in physiologically relevant environments, offering strong potential for translation into diverse in vivo magnetic sensing applications. For testing, MNPs are moved as a bolus through a plastic tube in the sensing area of the setup. An ac susceptibility technique was used to excite the MNPs using a weak alternating magnetic field of 100 µT, while the resulting low MNPs’ magnetization induced a signal detected by two pick-up coils arranged in a differential configuration on one side of the sensing area. Through appropriate calibration of the setup, the magnetic moment of each sample was estimated. The resulting magnetic field was calculated as a function of the sample’s “depth,” i.e., distance from the first coil. For MNPs’ bolus velocities of 10 mm/s, the experimental curves follow the theoretical trend derived from the Biot–Savart law for the magnetic field generated by a single magnetic dipole. 50 µg MNP droplets are detected with a magnitude of 4 nT and an SNR of 8 dB at a distance of 10 mm. The gradiometer sensor is capable of quantifying a 500 µg MNP sample at depths up to 24 mm.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)3812-3822
Seitenumfang11
FachzeitschriftIEEE sensors journal
Jahrgang26
Ausgabenummer3
Frühes Online-Datum15 Dez. 2025
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 Feb. 2026
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-8012-6794/work/201625236
WOS 001676278100014

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Gradiometer configuration, MNP bolus, magnetic detection, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), phasesensitive detection