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Towards an on-chip platform for the controlled application of forces via magnetic particles: A novel device for mechanobiology

2015; American Institute of Physics; Volume: 117; Issue: 17 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1063/1.4917191

1520-8850

Marco Monticelli, Edoardo Albisetti, D. Petti, Dario Valter Conca, Mauro Falcone, Parikshit Pratim Sharma, R. Bertacco,

Micro and Nano Robotics

In-vitro tests and analyses are of fundamental importance for investigating biological mechanisms in cells and bio-molecules. The controlled application of forces to activate specific bio-pathways and investigate their effects, mimicking the role of the cellular environment, is becoming a prominent approach in this field. In this work, we present a non-invasive magnetic on-chip platform which allows for the manipulation of magnetic particles, through micrometric magnetic conduits of Permalloy patterned on-chip. We show, from simulations and experiments, that this technology permits to exert a finely controlled force on magnetic beads along the chip surface. This force can be tuned from few to hundreds pN by applying a variable external magnetic field.