A quantitative design and analysis of magnetic nanoparticle heating systems

Abstract

Magnetic particles under the influence of an alternating magnetic field act as localized heating sources due to various loss mechanisms. This effect has been extensively investigated in hypothermia studies over the past decades and has recently been applied at the molecular level to control the dehybridization of DNA molecules. As a result, it has the potential of controlling and studying biological systems. To ensure that the nanoparticles are the only source of heat requires a very efficient system that minimizes heat transfer from sources other than the magnetic field. A quantitative analysis of the requirements and the design of such a system was investigated and tested experimentally. Although the results were affected by transmission line effects, the theory supporting the approach is sound and explains the crucial parameters that are necessary for optimizing localized ferromagnetic nanoparticle heating.