Deterministic and Stochastic Trajectories of Magnetic Particles: Mapping Energy Landscapes for Technology And Biology

Technologies that control matter at the nano- and micro-scale are crucial to realizing engineered systems that can assemble, transport, and manipulate materials at submicron length scales. Two principles: (1) the domain wall structure of patterned magnetic structures and (2) the superparamagnetic properties of nanoparticles, have been previously used to remotely manipulate and transport magnetic entities to specific sites on a platform. In this paper, changes to the energy landscape during transport as well as the local energy profile of individual stationary traps, both of which are central to the functionality of the platform, are evaluated using directed forces and stochastic (Brownian) trajectories of trap-confined microparticles. Hybrid magnetic-fluorescent micelle nanoconstructs, which are compatible with physiological conditions and safeguard functionality of biomaterials, are shown to be viable markers to label and manipulate individual cells across the platform.