An in vitro study of magnetic particle targeting in small blood vessels.

The magnetic guidance and capture of particles inside the human body, via the circulatory system, is a novel method for the targeted delivery of drugs. This experimental study confirms in vitro that a dipolar capturing device, based on high-energy magnets with an active space of 8.7 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm, retains colloidal magnetic particles (MPs) (<30 nm) injected in the capillary tubes, where flow velocities are comparable to that encountered in the capillary beds of tumours (<0.