Determination of the viscosity of the cytoplasm of M-HeLa cells using fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles and an electromagnetic needle

Abstract

Abstract Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have recently begun to be actively used in biomedicine as magnetic biosensors for targeted drug delivery in tissue engineering, and in magnetic resonance imaging. The study of the magnetic field effect on magnetic nanoparticles internalized into cells is of particular importance since it allows a non-invasive influence on cellular activity. There is data stating the possibility to manipulate and control individual MNPs by utilizing the local magnetic field gradient created with the help of electromagnetic needles (EN). The measuring of the movement rate of MNPs inside cells under the action of a known magnetic force allows to evaluate the viscous properties of the cell’s cytoplasm. The present work demonstrates the influence of the local magnetic field gradient created by EN on the luminescent MNPs internalized in HeLa cancer cells. It describes a method for controlling the intensity of this field and estimates the attractive force of EN. Both designs of EN and its main characteristics are also described. The applicability of the developed method in measuring the viscosity of the HeLa cancer cells cytoplasm is highlighted.