Abstract
Magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENPs) are an emerging technology capable of interacting with electric charges and fields in the body, enabling single-cell electroporation, neuron modulation, and targeted drug delivery. Their magnetoelectric effect allows wireless electric field generation, removing the need for invasive electrodes. Despite advances in MENP-based medical applications, progress has been limited by suboptimal fabrication and incomplete understanding of MENP–tissue interactions. Inconsistent testing methods and limited knowledge of local electric field effects at the nano- and cellular scale have hindered optimization for electroporation and neural stimulation. Addressing these challenges is the focus of this dissertation.
This work examines various MENPs, all with a magnetostrictive CoFe₂O₄ core and a piezoelectric BaTiO₃ shell, fabricated using different methods. Initial experiments assessed MENP-induced Trypan Blue dye degradation under varying magnetic fields, with UV-spectrophotometry used to optimize parameters. Up to 100% dye degradation was achieved through intrinsic dipole effects and magnetoelectric stimulation, with free-radical scavengers helping elucidate the degradation mechanism.
Optimized MENPs were then tested on ovarian cancer cells, where a 20 µg dose and 600 Oe stimulation reduced cell viability by up to 60%. Mechanisms were further explored using assays for electroporation and apoptosis. MENP effects on neurons were also studied via calcium fluorescence imaging, showing both stimulation and inhibition of hippocampal neurons under different magnetic field parameters.
Overall, this thesis provides a framework for rapid MENP testing and optimization, advancing fundamental understanding of their biological interactions