Hanan Mohammed

Isolation of cells for selective treatment and analysis using a magnetic microfluidic chip

This study describes the development and testing of a magnetic microfluidic chip (MMC) for trapping and isolating cells tagged with superparamagnetic beads (SPBs) in a microfluidic environment for selective treatment and analysis. The trapping and isolation are done in two separate steps; first, the trapping of the tagged cells in a main channel is achieved by soft ferromagnetic disks and second, the transportation of the cells into side chambers for isolation is executed by tapered conductive paths made of Gold (Au). Numerical simulations were performed to analyze the magnetic flux and force distributions of the disks and conducting paths, for trapping and transporting SPBs. The MMC was fabricated using standard microfabrication processes. Experiments were performed with E. coli (K12 strand) tagged with 2.8 μm SPBs. The results showed that E. coli can be separated from a sample solution by trapping them at the disk sites, and then isolated into chambers by transporting them along the tapered conducting paths. Once the E. coli was trapped inside the side chambers, two selective treatments were performed. In one chamber, a solution with minimal nutrition content was added and, in another chamber, a solution with essential nutrition was added. The results showed that the growth of bacteria cultured in the second chamber containing nutrient was significantly higher, demonstrating that the E. coli was not affected by the magnetically driven transportation and the feasibility of performing different treatments on selectively isolated cells on a single microfluidic platform.

Magnetotransport Measurements of Domain Wall Propagation in Individual Multisegmented Cylindrical Nanowires

Magnetotransport measurements were performed on multisegmented Co/Ni nanowires (NWs) fabricated by template-assisted electrodeposition. Individual NWs were isolated and electrodes patterned to study their magnetization reversal process. The magnetoresistance reversal curve of the multisegmented NW exhibits a step in the switching field. Micromagnetic simulations of the magnetization reversal process are in agreement with the experimental findings and attribute the step at the switching field to the pinning of a domain wall at the interface of the Co/Ni NW.

Direct Observation of Current-Induced Motion of a 3D Vortex Domain Wall in Cylindrical Nanowires

The current-induced dynamics of 3D magnetic vortex domain walls in cylindrical Co/Ni nanowires are revealed experimentally using Lorentz microscopy and theoretically using micromagnetic simulations. We demonstrate that a spin-polarized electric current can control the reversible motion of 3D vortex domain walls, which travel with a velocity of a few hundred meters per second. This finding is a key step in establishing fast, high-density memory devices based on vertical arrays of cylindrical magnetic nanowires.

Laser printed graphene on polyimide electrodes for magnetohydrodynamic pumping of saline fluids

An efficient, scalable pumping device is reported that avoids moving parts and is fabricated with a cost-effective method. The magnetohydrodynamic pump has electrodes facilely made by laser printing of polyimide. The electrodes exhibit a low sheet resistance of 22.75 Ω/square. The pump is implemented in a channel of 240 mm2 cross-section and has an electrode length of 5 mm. When powered by 7.3 V and 12.43 mA/cm2, it produces 13.02 mm/s flow velocity.

Current induced domain wall motion in cylindrical nanowires

The ability to move magnetic domain walls using spin-polarized currents has spurred considerable interest in the field of data storage devices, particularly in three-dimensional devices.

Magnetoresistance of cylindrical nanowires with artificial pinning site

New concepts of magnetic memory devices are exploiting the movement of data bits by current induced domain wall motion. This concept has been widely explored with rectangular nanowires (NWs) or stripes both theoretically and experimentally [1]. In the case of cylindrical NWs not much progress has been made on the experimental side, despite its promising advantages like the absence of Walker breakdown [2].