Control of Magnetic Drug Delivery: from magnets that push, to simulations that predict in-vivo behavior, to autopsy studies

Date: 11/08/2010
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: 333 Curry Student Center
Speaker: Dr. Benjamin Shapiro, Associate Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, Institute for Systems Research

Magnetic drug delivery is the control of therapeutic magnetizable nanoparticles to regions of disease, e.g. to tumors, infections, or blood clots. Our goal has been to better design magnetic manipulation to achieve clinical goals. I will present a spectrum of results ranging from the near to the long term. For the short term, I will show how advanced numerical simulations can accurately predict in-vivo behavior thus allowing improved design of magnetic drug delivery systems, as well as showing methods for optimal magnet design to substantially increase magnetic forces. Next (medium term), I will show how a simple combination of magnets can create push forces thus providing access to inner ear, enabling targeting of diseases that cannot otherwise be reached due to the blood/brain barrier. Finally, for the long term, I will discuss lessons learned from simulations and autopsy studies to enable better treatment of cancer. Improving magnetic drug delivery requires a deep collaboration between nano-fabricators, chemists, engineers, control theorists, and clinicians, and I will close the talk by commenting on open questions that require multi-disciplinary answers.