Micrometric periodic assembly of magnetotactic bacteria and magnetic nanoparticles using audio tapes

Abstract

We report micrometric periodic assembly of live and dead magnetotactic bacteria, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1, which synthesize chains of magnetic nanoparticles inside their bodies, and of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 and ferromagnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions using periodically magnetized audio tapes. The distribution of the stray magnetic field at the surface of the tapes was determined analytically and experimentally by magneto-optic imaging. Calculations showed that the magnetic field close to the tape surface was of the order of 100 Mt, and the magnetic field gradient was larger than 1 T mm-1. Drops of aqueous solutions were deposited on the tapes, and bacteria and particles were trapped at locations where magnetic energy is minimized, as observed using conventional optical microscopy. Suspensions of M. magneticum AMB-1 treated with formaldehyde and kanamycin were studied, and patterns of trapped dead bacteria indicated that magnetic forces dominate over self-propelling forces in these experiments, in accordance with calculated values. The behavior of the different types of samples is discussed.