(188an) Multifunctional Magnetorheological Fluids (MRFs)

MRFs have been synthesized from modified iron surface particles and phosphate buffered saline carrier fluids. The functionalities consist of cell targeting, imaging, drug release, and immunological response. The constituents can be grafted onto the iron particles through surface polymerization. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been used as the surface polymerization technique for the iron particles. ATRP will yield a polymer with highly controlled molecular weight and polydispersity index (PDI) near 1. Surface modification of the iron particles were accomplished in two steps. The first step was polymerization of the monomers and the second step was conjugation of the antibody and fluorochrome onto the polymer backbone. The thermal properties of the surface grafted polymers on the iron particles were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The conjugated fluorescent labeled protein or antibody on the surface grafted polymers of iron particles were characterized using flow cytometry. Micron-size iron particles imaged using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cancer simulant has been synthesized from silicone gel. The rheology properties of cancer stimulant were examined using shear rheometer.