Thermal Fluctuation Effects in Magnetophoresis

of Superparamagnetic Microbeads
Guntars Kitenbergs, Kristaps Dzilna, Kaspars rglis and Andrejs Cbersa,*
a

Laboratory of Soft Materials, Chair of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics,
University of Latvia, Zellu 8, LV-1002, Riga, Latvia
*E-mail: aceb@tesla.sal.lv

Abstract. Thermal fluctuation effects in magnetophoresis of commercial superparamagnetic beads are analyzed. By
tracking the trajectories of the beads the distribution functions of their displacements in two perpendicular directions are
determined. This allows us to determine simultaneously the mean velocity of the beads and their diffusion coefficient.
Magnetic moment of a single bead is found by applying the Einstein relation. Distribution of the magnetic moment values
are analyzed for two commercial samples of the superparamagnetic beads.
Keywords: Magnetophoresis, thermal fluctuations, magnetic moment, microparticles, nanoparticles.
PACS: 05.40.Jc, 87.50.ch, 75.50.Tt, 75.50.Mm.

INTRODUCTION
Determination of the magnetic properties of micron size objects is an important problem in different fields of the
physics. Different methods have been proposed. The magnetic moments of magnetotactic bacteria determined by the
chains of magnetosomes are measured by tracking reversal of their motion at sudden change of the direction of the
applied magnetic field [1,2], from the analysis of their back and forth rotational motion in a rotating magnetic field
[3]. Information about the magnetic properties of a flagellated single magnetotactic bacterium may be obtained by
analyzing its motion in alternating magnetic fields [3,4]. It should be noted that the methods based on the
investigation of the magnetic or optical properties of an ensemble of the magnetic microobjects [5] do not give
direct access to the properties of single particles.
Measurement of the magnetic moment of single objects, for example cells, gives information on the amount of
the magnetic nanoparticles adsorbed by the cells [6,7]. This allows the prediction of their behavior for the control of
tissue regeneration, drug transport under the action of the magnetic field, and other applications [8,9].
Here a new method for the measurement of the magnetic moment of single microobjects based on
magnetophoresis in a given non-homogeneous magnetic field under the action of thermal fluctuations is developed.
It is illustrated by the measurement of the magnetic moment distribution for two samples of the commercially
available superparamagnetic beads (Spherotech and Ademtech Masterbeads). These beads are widely used in
biomedicine for purposes of separation [10] and transport [11].

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
A special magnetophoresis module (see Fig.1) has been created to fit on the Leica DMI3000B microscope. Also
a Dantec PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) system is attached, using a MicroStrobe light source. HiSense camera
and Dantec DynamicStudio software are used for the data registration. Camera records 13441024 pixel 12-bit
image series with 10 Hz and is oriented to match x and y axis directions. As a result particle motion analysis can be
done separately for magnetophoresis direction (x-axis) and the perpendicular direction (y-axis). Image scale factor is
= 0.291 m/px. A permanent magnet (1 in Fig.1) creates a non-homogenous magnetic field. In the measuring
position ( x = 12 mm) the magnetic field is B = 0.09 T and the magnetic field gradient is B / x = 4.3 T/m. These
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values are considered to be constant in the field of vision. For measurements we use two different
superparamagnetic beads Spherotech SVM-10-10 1.31 m and Ademtech Masterbeads 500 nm. Sample is
introduced between two slides at a distance of 0.028 mm. This makes a cell (3 in Fig.1) where we put a weak
concentration particle dilution in TE buffer (few particles per the field of vision).
The PIV system allows us to adjust image exposure parameters to find the best contrast. The camera has high
sensitivity, therefore exposure time is less than 5 milliseconds. With DynamicStudio it is possible to record series of
pictures with more than 10,000 images.

FIGURE 1. Microscope magnetophoresis module. Orientations of axes are shown.

1 - permanent neodymium magnet, 2 40x lens, 3 sample 10100.028 mm3 cell, 4 MicroStrobe light source.

DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS

Software in MatLab was developed to process image series. At first the recorded image is read and its
preprocessing is carried out. The preprocessing increases image contrast. Then particle positions are found. These
steps are done for each image separately to save memory resources. Using detected positions particle tracking is
done. For these steps special functions developed in [12] are used. Due to the random character of the process only
long trajectories (more than 200 images) are selected. Maximum trajectory length depends on both technical
limitations (maximal camera speed 12Hz) and particle velocity (particle magnetic moment and size, magnetic
field). Finally average velocities from particle coordinates x and y are calculated.
An example of the tracked particle trajectory sample by image composition is illustrated in Fig. 2.

FIGURE 2. Trajectory of a single Spherotech 1.31 m particle.

The particle velocity is calculated from its coordinate data.

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Theoretical Model
The theoretical model is based on the theory of the Brownian motion for a single magnetic particle under the

action of the constant Kelvin force f = ( f x , f y ) = mB = (mB / x,0) ( m is the magnetic moment of the particle,

B / x is the x component of the magnetic field gradient) [8,13]. The probability density P(x, y; t ) of the
particle displacements x and y along x and y axes during the time interval t reads

P(x, y; t ) =

(x 1 f x t ) 2
1
exp
4Dt
4 Dt

y 2
exp

4 Dt .

(1)

Here D is the diffusion coefficient, is the hydrodynamic drag coefficient.

The relation (1) shows that the motions along x and y axes are independent and the following relation for the
densities of the probability distribution P(v x , y ) of the average velocity along x and y axes may be obtained

P (v x , y ) =

(v x , y 1 f x , y ) 2 t
1 t
.
exp

2 D
4D

(2)

The relation (2) shows that although the average velocity of the bead along the magnetic field gradient is
determined by the Kelvin force mB nevertheless some particles due to the thermal fluctuation effects move faster
and some slower than by expected mean velocity v 0 = 1 mB . Tracking the particle motion, obtaining its
statistics and matching it by the normal distribution for the given time interval t gives the diffusion coefficient of
the particle and its mean velocity v 0 . Since the diffusion coefficient and the hydrodynamic drag coefficient are
connected by the Einstein relation D = k B T / this allows us to measure the magnetic moment of the single bead
for the given magnetic field. It is important to notice that this approach is valid independent of how strong the
hydrodynamic interaction of the particle with the walls of the cell used in the measurements.

FIGURE 3. Average velocity histograms of a single particle (Fig.2) in x and y axis directions for t = 2.5 s. Probability density
(2) for the parameters D , v 0 which are found by fit, are showed by red lines.

Velocity Analysis
By particle tracking the coordinates of the bead are found for different time moments and average velocities v at
different observation time t intervals are calculated. For each t a pair of average velocity histograms is
constructed (see Fig.3). Parameters D and v 0 and their statistical errors (95% confidence level) are found from

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calculated average velocity data for each trajectory using MatLab normfit function, which tests if the data
distribution follows the normal distribution.
To obtain more precise parameter values, we calculate and fit average velocity distributions for different t . To
eliminate other effects including particle sedimentation we choose only those particles, for which the determined
values of the parameters D and v 0 do not depend on the observation time t (see Fig 4.). As a result more precise
diffusion coefficient and mean velocity values are obtained, which allow us to calculate magnetic moment of
individual particles.

FIGURE 4. Parameter D and v 0 values in dependence on observation time t for one particle.
Calculated mean values are shown. Each point represents data from a histogram (see Fig. 3)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Using the described method of data analysis we have found the values of the magnetic moments for 20 different
particles of both types of beads. For comparison the data of independent magnetic measurements are used: the
magnetic moment of the Spherotech beads is estimated according to [14] and for the Ademtech beads the density and
size given by supplier together with a magnetization curve (taken by M. M. Maiorov, IPUL) are used. Obtained data
and the results of the measurements are shown in Fig. 5. Although the characterized particle ensemble is small
nevertheless a noticeable dispersion is detected and demonstrated for both types of particles. The magnetic moment
values of the same type of particles can differ by more than two times, therefore having very different resulting
attraction to an external magnetic field.

FIGURE 5. Individual particle magnetic moment comparison with estimated values.

Left Spherotech beads, right Ademtech beads.

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In our opinion magnetic moment, and accordingly magnetic property dispersion should be strictly characterized.
Typical data include only particle size distribution, and measurement made by dynamic light scattering (DLS),
which does not directly characterize particle magnetic properties.
A huge problem in this experimental setup is particle sedimentation due to gravity. Due to this the particles not
only leave the microscope focus, but also change the mean velocity by approaching the sample walls (following
Faxens law), resulting in higher dispersion of the average velocity distribution. Until now this problem is solved by
adjusting the focus to the middle of the sample.
Particle sedimentation speed has been determined for the Spherotech beads and is v S 1.8 m/min. This results
in maximal experiment length limitation around ten minutes. If this effect is eliminated (proved by analysis of
magnetophoresis motion in a more viscous medium), the obtained results are more precise and without influence of
the sedimentation.

CONCLUSION
A new method for the measurement of the magnetic moment of single superparamagnetic beads is proposed. It is
based on the tracking of the particle motion in non-homogeneous magnetic field under the action of thermal
fluctuations. Obtained statistics due to the Einstein relation allows one to obtain the hydrodynamic drag coefficient
and the magnetic moment of a single superparamagnetic bead. This is demonstrated by the measurements of the
distribution of magnetic moments for the two types of the commercially available superparamagnetic beads.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work is supported by the grants of University of Latvia ESS2009/86 and Z-6191-100. We are thankful to
M. M. Maiorov for the magnetization measurements.

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