Magnetic Control of Fe(3)O(4) Nanomaterial for Fat Ablation in Microchannel

In this study, surface modification of iron (II, III) oxide Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles by oleic acid (OA) coating is investigated for the microablation of fat in a microchannel. The nanoparticles are synthesized by the co-precipitation method and then dispersed in organic solvent prior to mixing with the OA. The magnetization, agglomeration, and particle size distribution properties of the OA-coated Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles are characterized. The surface modification of the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles reveals that upon injection into a microchannel, the lipophilicity of the OA coating influences the movement of the nanoparticles across an oil-phase barrier. The motion of the nanoparticles is controlled using an AC magnetic field to induce magnetic torque and a static gradient field to control linear translation. The fat microablation process in a microchannel is demonstrated using an oscillating driving field of less than 1200 Am(−1).