Tuning the Magnetic Vortex State in Magnetite Nanodiscs for Remote Control of Biological Signalling

Author(s):  
Danijela Gregurec ◽  
Alexander W. Senko ◽  
Andrey Chuvilin ◽  
Pooja Reddy ◽  
Ashwin Sankararaman ◽  
...  

In this work, we demonstrate the application of anisotropic magnetite nanodiscs (MNDs) as transducers of torque to mechanosensory cells under weak, slowly varying magnetic fields (MFs). These MNDs possess a ground state vortex configuration of magnetic spins which affords greater colloidal stability due to eliminated dipole-dipole interactions characteristic of isotropic magnetic particles of similar size. We first predict vortex magnetization using micromagnetic stimulations in sub-micron anisotropic magnetite particles and then use electron holography to experimentally investigate the magnetization of MNDs 98–226 nm in diameter. When MNDs are coupled to MFs, they transition between vortex and in-plane magnetization allowing for the exertion of the torque on the pN scale, which is sufficient to activate mechanosensitive ion channels in cell membranes.<br>

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danijela Gregurec ◽  
Alexander W. Senko ◽  
Andrey Chuvilin ◽  
Pooja Reddy ◽  
Ashwin Sankararaman ◽  
...  

In this work, we demonstrate the application of anisotropic magnetite nanodiscs (MNDs) as transducers of torque to mechanosensory cells under weak, slowly varying magnetic fields (MFs). These MNDs possess a ground state vortex configuration of magnetic spins which affords greater colloidal stability due to eliminated dipole-dipole interactions characteristic of isotropic magnetic particles of similar size. We first predict vortex magnetization using micromagnetic stimulations in sub-micron anisotropic magnetite particles and then use electron holography to experimentally investigate the magnetization of MNDs 98–226 nm in diameter. When MNDs are coupled to MFs, they transition between vortex and in-plane magnetization allowing for the exertion of the torque on the pN scale, which is sufficient to activate mechanosensitive ion channels in cell membranes.<br>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danijela Gregurec ◽  
Alexander W. Senko ◽  
Andrey Chuvilin ◽  
Pooja Reddy ◽  
Ashwin Sankararaman ◽  
...  

In this work, we demonstrate the application of anisotropic magnetite nanodiscs (MNDs) as transducers of torque to mechanosensory cells under weak, slowly varying magnetic fields (MFs). These MNDs possess a ground state vortex configuration of magnetic spins which affords greater colloidal stability due to eliminated dipole-dipole interactions characteristic of isotropic magnetic particles of similar size. We first predict vortex magnetization using micromagnetic stimulations in sub-micron anisotropic magnetite particles and then use electron holography to experimentally investigate the magnetization of MNDs 98–226 nm in diameter. When MNDs are coupled to MFs, they transition between vortex and in-plane magnetization allowing for the exertion of the torque on the pN scale, which is sufficient to activate mechanosensitive ion channels in cell membranes.<br>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danijela Gregurec ◽  
Alexander W. Senko ◽  
Andrey Chuvilin ◽  
Pooja Reddy ◽  
Ashwin Sankararaman ◽  
...  

In this work, we demonstrate the application of anisotropic magnetite nanodiscs (MNDs) as transducers of torque to mechanosensory cells under weak, slowly varying magnetic fields (MFs). These MNDs possess a ground state vortex configuration of magnetic spins which affords greater colloidal stability due to eliminated dipole-dipole interactions characteristic of isotropic magnetic particles of similar size. We first predict vortex magnetization using micromagnetic stimulations in sub-micron anisotropic magnetite particles and then use electron holography to experimentally investigate the magnetization of MNDs 98–226 nm in diameter. When MNDs are coupled to MFs, they transition between vortex and in-plane magnetization allowing for the exertion of the torque on the pN scale, which is sufficient to activate mechanosensitive ion channels in cell membranes.<br>


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. e1501801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor P. Almeida ◽  
Adrian R. Muxworthy ◽  
András Kovács ◽  
Wyn Williams ◽  
Paul D. Brown ◽  
...  

The study of the paleomagnetic signal recorded by rocks allows scientists to understand Earth’s past magnetic field and the formation of the geodynamo. The magnetic recording fidelity of this signal is dependent on the magnetic domain state it adopts. The most prevalent example found in nature is the pseudo–single-domain (PSD) structure, yet its recording fidelity is poorly understood. Here, the thermoremanent behavior of PSD magnetite (Fe3O4) particles, which dominate the magnetic signatures of many rock lithologies, is investigated using electron holography. This study provides spatially resolved magnetic information from individual Fe3O4 grains as a function of temperature, which has been previously inaccessible. A small exemplar Fe3O4 grain (~150 nm) exhibits dynamic movement of its magnetic vortex structure above 400°C, recovering its original state upon cooling, whereas a larger exemplar Fe3O4 grain (~250 nm) is shown to retain its vortex state on heating to 550°C, close to the Curie temperature of 580°C. Hence, we demonstrate that Fe3O4 grains containing vortex structures are indeed reliable recorders of paleodirectional and paleointensity information, and the presence of PSD magnetic signals does not preclude the successful recovery of paleomagnetic signals.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2106-2115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soraya Sangiao ◽  
César Magén ◽  
Darius Mofakhami ◽  
Grégoire de Loubens ◽  
José María De Teresa

In this work, we present a detailed investigation of the magnetic properties of cobalt nanospheres grown on cantilever tips by focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID). The cantilevers are extremely soft and the cobalt nanospheres are optimized for magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) experiments, which implies that the cobalt nanospheres must be as small as possible while bearing high saturation magnetization. It was found that the cobalt content and the corresponding saturation magnetization of the nanospheres decrease for nanosphere diameters less than 300 nm. Electron holography measurements show the formation of a magnetic vortex state in remanence, which nicely agrees with magnetic hysteresis loops performed by local magnetometry showing negligible remanent magnetization. As investigated by local magnetometry, optimal behavior for high-resolution MRFM has been found for cobalt nanospheres with a diameter of ≈200 nm, which present atomic cobalt content of ≈83 atom % and saturation magnetization of 106 A/m, around 70% of the bulk value. These results represent the first comprehensive investigation of the magnetic properties of cobalt nanospheres grown by FEBID for application in MRFM.


2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2745-2760 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Yu. Guslienko

Magnetic vortices are typically the ground states in geometrically confined ferromagnets with small magnetocrystalline anisotropy. In this article I review static and dynamic properties of the magnetic vortex state in small particles with nanoscale thickness and sub-micron and micron lateral sizes (magnetic dots). Magnetic dots made of soft magnetic material shaped as flat circular and elliptic cylinders are considered. Such mesoscopic dots undergo magnetization reversal through successive nucleation, displacement and annihilation of magnetic vortices. The reversal process depends on the stability of different possible zero-field magnetization configurations with respect to the dot geometrical parameters and application of an external magnetic field. The interdot magnetostatic interaction plays an important role in magnetization reversal for dot arrays with a small dot-to-dot distance, leading to decreases in the vortex nucleation and annihilation fields. Magnetic vortices reveal rich, non-trivial dynamical properties due to existance of the vortex core bearing topological charges. The vortex ground state magnetization distribution leads to a considerable modification of the nature of spin excitations in comparison to those in the uniformly magnetized state. A magnetic vortex confined in a magnetically soft ferromagnet with micron-sized lateral dimensions possesses a characteristic dynamic excitation known as a translational mode that corresponds to spiral-like precession of the vortex core around its equilibrium position. The translation motions of coupled vortices are considered. There are, above the vortex translation mode eigenfrequencies, several dynamic magnetization eigenmodes localized outside the vortex core whose frequencies are determined principally by dynamic demagnetizing fields appearing due to restricted dot geometry. The vortex excitation modes are classified as translation modes and radially or azimuthally symmetric spin waves over the vortex ground state. Studying the spin eigenmodes in such systems provides valuable information to relate the particle dynamical response to geometrical parameters. Unresolved problems are identified to attract attention of researchers working in the area of nanomagnetism.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 950-951
Author(s):  
Trevor P. Almeida ◽  
Adrian R. Muxworthy ◽  
Wyn Williams ◽  
Takeshi Kasama ◽  
Thomas W. Hansen ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex S. Jenkins ◽  
Lara San Emeterio Alvarez ◽  
Paulo P. Freitas ◽  
Ricardo Ferreira

Abstract We present an investigation into the in-plane field induced free layer state transitions found in magnetic tunnel junctions. By applying an ac current into an integrated field antenna, the magnetisation of the free layer can be switched between the magnetic vortex state and the quasi-uniform anti-parallel state. When in the magnetic vortex state, the vortex core gyrates a discrete number of times, and at certain frequencies there is a 50% chance of the core gyrating n or n − 1 times, leading to the proposal of a novel nanoscale continuous digital true random bit generator.


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