FP6 priority

1.1.1   Genomics and Biotechnology for Health

1.1.1
1.1.2.1

Title of the proposal

Quantification of the ferromagnetic content in the biological structures

Institute

Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Measurement Science
Dubravska cesta 9, 842 19 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Contact

Research subject for a potential FP6 project

Our group is dealing with contactless non-invasive method of low-mass concentration identifi-cation of the powdered ferromagnetic materials dispersed in diamagnetic ambient. In present time we use the SQUID magnetometric system for measurement of remanent magnetic induction of powdered Fe, Ni, Co, gFe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄ in living organisms (magnetopneumography) and in low-volume samples. By our system we achieve the sensitivity up to 10 µg/cm³. Above mentioned substances may cause diseases of the respiratory tract. In cooperation with the Clinic of Labour Medicine and Toxicology, Comenius University, Bratislava we use our measu-ring system for studying of the specific occupational diseases (of arc welders) and for concen-tration measurement of ferromagnetic contaminants in substances of the organic origin. Our contribution in the potential project would be in increasing the sensitivity of this magneto-metric method – more exact quantification of the contaminating content and this way to enable the non-invasive diagnostics. Another possibility of application of developed method could be in detecting the ferromagnetic substances in various organs, e.g. liver. Our group has a special laboratory for measurement of weak magnetic fields with the sensitivity of 20 fT Hz^-1/2 equipped with SQUID gradiometric systems of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd orders. We have initial device base for the detection of magnetic nanoparticles, e.g. used for labelling, separation and detection of substances in medical and biological investigations (gastrointestinal transit; iron, ferritine and homosiderin in human tissues, immunoassays etc.).

Recent international cooperation of the research team

We are looking for potential partners.

Proposer´s relevant publications related to the research subject

1. KRUTY, F. - SIMACEK, I. - MANKA, J. - VRABCEK, P.: Lung dust loads monitored by noninvasive magnetometric method. Central European Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1, 1995, No 1, p.5-12.
2. SIMACEK I. - MANKA J. - KRUTY F.: Sensitivity Limits of the Magnetometric Method for Measuring the Concentration of Powdered Materials, In: Proceedings of MEASUREMENT\'97, Smolenice Castle, Institute of Measurement Science SAS 1997, p.59-62.
3. SIMACEK, I. - MANKA, J. - KRUTY, F.: Measurement of ferromagnetic particle content in the lung tissues. In: Proceedings of MEASUREMENT\'99. Smolenice Castle, Institute of Measurement Science, p.142.
4. KRUTY, F. - SIMACEK, I. - MANKA, J.: Magnetometric Estimation of Lung Dust Loads by Applying a Reversed Magnetizing Field. Central European Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 5, 1999, No.3-4, p.324-331.
5. SIMACEK I. - MANKA J. - KRUTY F.: Quantification of Low Concentration of Ferromagnetic Particles by SQUID Magnetometric Method. In: Proceedings of MEASUREMENT\'2001. Smolenice Castle, Institute of Measurement Science, p.139.