Master of Science / Department of Anatomy and Physiology / Deryl L. Troyer / There is renewed interest in magnetic hyperthermia as a treatment modality for cancer, especially when it is combined with other more traditional therapeutic approaches, such as the co-delivery of anticancer drugs or photodynamic therapy. The influence of bimagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) combined with short external alternating magnetic field (AMF) exposure on the growth of subcutaneous mouse melanomas (B16-F10) was evaluated. Bimagnetic Fe/Fe3O4 core/shell nanoparticles were designed for cancer targeting after intratumoral or intravenous administration. Their inorganic center was protected against rapid biocorrosion by organic dopamine-oligoethylene glycol ligands. TCPP (4-tetracarboxyphenyl porphyrin) units were attached to the dopamine-oligoethylene glycol ligands. The magnetic hyperthermia results obtained after intratumoral injection indicated that micromolar concentrations of iron given within the modified core-shell Fe/Fe3O4 nanoparticles caused a significant anti-tumor effect on murine B16-F10 melanoma with three short 10-minute AMF exposures. There is a decrease in tumor size after intravenous administration of the MNPs followed by three consecutive days of AMF exposure. These results indicate that intratumoral administration of surface-modified MNPs can attenuate mouse melanoma after AMF exposure. Moreover, intravenous administration of these MNPs followed by AMF exposure attenuates melanomas, indicating that adequate amounts of TCPP-labeled stealth Fe/Fe3O4 nanoparticles can accumulate in murine melanoma after systemic delivery to allow effective magnetic hyperthermic therapy in a rodent tumor mode.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2016. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, with one third of the population being infected by it. The diagnosis of active tuberculosis entails finding and identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative pathogen in a specimen of bodily fluid from the patient. Multiple samples will improve the diagnostic yield and specimen volumes should therefore be as large as possible, which is often challenging for patients and especially younger children. Alternatively, a smaller volume could be required if there was a manner in which to concentrate the bacteria within a specimen, through use of a substrate which has an affinity for the pathogenic species. Polymers having intrinsic cellular activity are of interest as such substrates, one such being the natural polysaccharide, chitosan. In this thesis, a variety of modified chitosan derivatives were prepared as potential Mtb-capturing substrates. This was achieved by modifying chitosan with a variety of moieties, selected based on possible interactions with the Mtb cell wall, to render various quaternary ammonium salts of the polymer chitosan. The quaternized chitosan derivatives were then used to synthesize nano-substrates having an affinity for Mtb. Polymer coated superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles (SPMNs) were synthesized via an in situ co-precipitation technique, in which modified chitosan is able to chelate with the metal core. Polymer nanofibers were also electrospun via the electrospinning technique. The prepared derivative, N-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (TMC), was electrospun into nanofibers by blending with suitable non-ionogenic polymers, namely polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyacrylamide (PAM), required to facilitate nanofiber formation. Affinity studies were conducted between the modified chitosan nano-substrates and the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) strain of Mycobacterium bovis, the attenuated Mtb-mimic bacteria, for evaluation as mycobacterium capturing substrates. The successful capture of BCG onto the surfaces of the various modified chitosan nanofibers and modified chitosan coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy (FM), light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Analysis of the FM, TEM and FE-SEM images indicated that the chitosan coated nanoparticles functionalized with a C12 aliphatic quaternary ammonium moiety (CS-qC12), captured the most BCG through a combination of ionic and hydrophobic interaction. TMC blended with PVA, to produce nanofibers crosslinked with genipin, were found to have the strongest interaction with BCG of the nanofibrous mats tested. These findings were corroborated by water contact angle measurements, which established that PVA was the least hydrophilic of the non-ionogenic polymers and had hydrogen bond donating groups only, factors influencing the cellular adhesive properties of affinity substrates. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tuberkulose (TB) is een van die wêreld se mees dodelikste siektes, met ‘n derde van die bevolking wat geïnfekteer is daarmee. Ten einde aktiewe TB te diagnoseer moet Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), die voorsakende patogeen in ʼn monster van die pasiënt se liggaamlike vloeistof, gevind en ïdentifiseer word. Veelvuldige monsters sal die diagnotiese opbrengs verhoog en monster volumes moet dus so groot as moontlik wees wat dikwels ʼn uitdaging vir pasiënte en veral jonger kinders kan bied. Alternatiewelik kan ʼn kleiner monster van die pasiënt vereis word indien daar ʼn manier was om die bakterieë in ʼn monster te konsentreer deur die gebruik van ʼn substraat wat ʼn affiniteit toon vir die patogeniese spesie. Polimere met ʼn intrinsieke sellulêre aktiwiteit, wek belangstelling as sodanige substraat, een synde die natuurlike polisakkaried, chitosan. In hierdie tesis is ʼn verskeidenheid gemodifiseerde chitosan afgeleides voorberei as potensiële Mtb-vaslegging substrate. Dit is gedoen deur chitosan te modifiseer met ʼn verskeidenheid funksionele groepe, gekies op grond van moontlike interaksies met die Mtb selwand, ten einde ʼn verskeidenheid kwaternêre ammonium soute van die chitosan polimeer te bekom. Die kwaternêre chitosan afgeleides is gevolglik gebruik om nano-substrate te sintetiseer wat ʼn affiniteit toon vir Mtb. Polimeer bedekte superparamagnetiese magnetiet nanopartikels (SPMNs) is gesintetiseer via ʼn in situ mede-neerslag metode, waarvolgens die gemodifiseerde chitosan polimere in staat is om met die metaal kern te chelaat. Polimeer nanovesels is ook geëlektrospin deur die elektrospin tegniek te gebruik. Die voorbereide afgeleide N-trimetielammonium chitosan chloried (TMC) is tot nanovesels geëlektrospin deur vermenging met geskikte nie-ionogeniese polimere, naamlik poliviniel-alkohol (PVA), polietilene-oksied (PEO), poliviniel-pirrolidoon (PVP) en poliakrielamied (PAM), wat vereis word ten einde nanovesels te produseer. Affiniteit studies is uitgevoer tussen die gemodifiseerde chitosan nano-substrate en die bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) stam van Mycobacterium bovis, die verswakte Mtb-mimiek bakterieë vir evaluering as mycobakterium-vaslegging substrate. Die suksesvolle vasvang van BCG op die oppervlaktes van die verskillende gemodifiseerde chitosan nanovesels en gemodifiseerde chitosan bedekte SPMNs is bevestig deur fluoressensie mikroskopie (FM), lig mikroskopie (LM), transmissie elektron mikroskopie (TEM) en veld-emissie-skandering elektron mikroskopie (FE-SEM). Analise van die FM, TEM en FE-SEM beelde het getoon dat die chitosan bedekte nanopartikels met byvoeging van ʼn C12 alifatiese kwaternêre ammonium groep, die meeste BCG vasgevang het deur ʼn kombinasie van ioniese en hidrofobiese interaksie. TMC vermeng met PVA om nanovesels te vorm, gekruisbind met genipin, is gevind om die sterkste interaksie met BCG te toon. Hierdie bevindings is bevestig deur water-kontak-hoek-metings, wat getoon het dat PVA die minste hidrofilies van die nie-ionogeniese polimere was en slegs waterstof-binding skenkings groepe het, alles faktore wat die sellulêre bindingskwaliteite van affiniteit-substrate sal beïnvloed.

The present work is divided into two sections. The first section deals with the synthesis of regenerable adsorbents for the removal of arsenic from contaminated waters. An adsorbent based on carboxymethylated polyethylenimine grafted agarose gels was synthesized and characterized as a regenerable synthetic ferric oxide adsorbent with high capacity for arsenate ions at pH 3.0. Similarly, four metal ion chelating adsorbents based on dipicolylamine were synthesized and characterized with respect to their Cu(II), Fe(III) and As(V) adsorption capacities. The most efficient adsorbents were Nov-PEI-DPA and Nov-TREN-DPA. Additionally, a commercial ion exchange resin was modified with permanganate to oxidize arsenite into arsenate. A complete oxidation-adsorption system was proposed in which a column packed with the oxidation resin was connected in series with an adsorbent column composed of the polyethylenimine grafted agarose gels.The second section involved work with magnetic nanoparticles. First, composite adsorbents consisting of magnetic particles encapsulated within agarose beads with and without grafted iminodiacetic acid (IDA) chelating groups were synthesized. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbents for Cu(II), Fe(III) and As(V) at different concentrations was investigated. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the Fe(III) and As(V) adsorption isotherms for the magnetic Novarose-IDA. Regenerability of the adsorbent was achieved with a pH change of the inlet solution, without affecting its magnetic or adsorption properties.Magnetic composite particles were synthesized for biomedical applications. First, magnetic nanoparticles were coated with silica and then used for gold nanoshell production. These nanoshells were functionalized with a Brij S10 derivative, containing carboxylic groups, using dodecanethiol as a bridging agent to incorporate a fluorescent biomolecule.Finally, magnetic and gold particles were encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles. Docetaxel was loaded on these multifunctional nanoparticles and released studies were performed at 37°C. The presence of magnetite, colloidal gold and gold nanoshells in the PLGA nanoparticles was revealed by the coloration acquired by the polymeric nanoparticles. The release of drug from the polymeric nanoparticles showed a biphasic behavior with an initial burst followed by a prolonged slow release. There was no effect of the presence of magnetic or metallic particles on docetaxel release.

Magnetic nanoparticles are of great interest for a wide range of applications. This work has focused on three primary forms of iron based nanoparticles and combinations thereof: α-iron, iron oxide, and iron carbide or cementite. The synthesis of several core-shell particles including cementite-iron oxide, α-iron-cementite, and α-iron-iron oxide was accomplished through reverse micelle routes and high temperature decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl in various media. Structural analysis to confirm the structures was performed using extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) techniques. A rapid characterization technique was developed utilizing a correlation between Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and EXAFS to determine the full metal cation distribution between the octahedral and tetrahedral sites in manganese zinc ferrite (MZFO). This method was then used to show that the initial Fe3+ to Fe2+ ratio in MZFO synthesis could be used to design a desired cation distribution and affected the zinc incorporation levels into the resultant ferrite. Functionalization of nanoparticles for aqueous dispersions and ferrofluids has varying degrees of importance, depending on the application. In applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) where the targets are biological systems, it was important to produce solutions that will not aggregate in the high magnetic field of the MRI. It was also vital to characterize decomposition mechanisms and products that would be presented to the body after use as a contrast agent. This work has provided insight into both the preparation of magnetic samples for MRI applications and implications of the biocompatibility of reactive and decomposition products. Three successful methods of forming dispersions that would not aggregate in the high magnetic field of the MRI were comprised of cysteine/polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG based ferrofluids, and dopamine/PEG. The dopamine functionalization however showed reactivity with the iron/iron oxide nanoparticles and led to the formation of the cytotoxic dopamine quinone and resulted in the destruction of the nanoparticles. Using all three types of dispersions to compare the iron based nanomaterials, the MRI measurements concluded with the iron oxide ferrofluid yielding the highest R2 enhancement.

Master of Science / Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering / Donghai Wang / Acid catalysts have been successfully used for pretreatment of cellulosic biomass to improve sugar recovery and its later conversion to ethanol. However, use of acid requires a considerable equipment investment as well as disposal of residues. Acid-functionalized nanoparticles were synthesized for pretreatment and hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass to increase conversion efficiency at mild conditions. Advantages of using acid-functionalized metal nanoparticles are not only the acidic properties to catalyze hydrolysis and being small enough to penetrate into the lignocellulosic structure, but also being easily separable from hydrolysis residues by using a strong magnetic field. Cobalt spinel ferrite magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized using a microemulsion method and then covered with a layer of silica to protect them from oxidation. The silanol groups of the silica serve as the support of the sulfonic acid groups that were later attached to the surface of the nanoparticles. TEM images and FTIR methods were used to characterize the properties of acid-functionalized nanoparticles in terms of nanoparticle size, presence of sulfonic acid functional groups, and pH as an indicator of acid sites present. Citric acid-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles were also synthesized and evaluated. Wheat straw and wood fiber samples were treated with the acid supported nanoparticles at 80°C for 24 h to hydrolyze their hemicellulose fraction to sugars. Further hydrolysis of the liquid fraction was carried out to account for the amount of total solubilized sugars. HPLC was used to determine the total amount of sugars obtained in the aqueous solution. The perfluroalkyl-sulfonic acid functional groups from the magnetic nanoparticles yielded significantly higher amounts of oligosaccharides from wood and wheat straw samples than the alkyl-sulfonic acid functional groups did. More stable fluorosulfonic acid functionalized nanoparticles can potentially work as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials.

This thesis is focused on mixed systems of various copolymers (double hydrophilic block and gradient polyelectrolytes, hydrophobic graft copolymers) and low-molar-mass compounds (sodium dodecyl sulfate as a representative of a ionic surfactant or superparamagnetic iron oxides in the form of nanocrystals). The electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions in the studied systems in aqueous solutions leading to aggregation behavior and to the formation of co-assembled nanoparticles were investigated by combination of scattering and microscopy techniques, including light, X-ray and neutron scattering, electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Este trabalho compreende a síntese e caracterização de um novo catalisador magneticamente recuperável de CoO para oxidação alílica de alcenos. O catalisador foi preparado através da deposição de nanopartículas (de tamanho entre 2-3 nm) do metal cataliticamente ativo em nanopartículas de magnetita revestidas por sílica. A natureza magnética do suporte permitiu a fácil separação do catalisador do meio reacional após o termino das reações pela simples aproximação de um ímã na parede do reator. O catalisador pôde ser completamente separado da fase líquida, fazendo com que a utilização de outros métodos de separação como filtração e centrifugação, comumente utilizados em sistemas heterogêneos líquidos, fossem completamente dispensados. O catalisador foi inicialmente testado em reações de oxidação do substrato modelo cicloexeno e mostrou seletividade para a produção do produto alílico, cicloex-2-en-1-ona, que é reagente de partida de grande interesse para a síntese de diversos materiais na indústria química. As reações de oxidação foram realizadas utilizando-se apenas O2 como oxidante primário, dispensando o uso de oxidantes tóxicos como cromatos ou permanganatos, que não são recomendados do ponto de vista ambiental. O catalisador sintetizado mostrou ser reutilizável em sucessivos ciclos de oxidação, destacando-se o aumento da seletividade para a formação da cetona alílica conforme o catalisador perde atividade. A lixiviação da espécie ativa para o meio reacional, problema comum na catálise heterogênea, não foi observada. Um estudo cinético mostrou que mesmo no inicio da reação o catalisador tem seletividade para a ocorrência de oxidação alílica em detrimento da reação de oxidação direta que dá origem ao produto epóxido. Em todos os tempos estudados o produto principal da reação foi sempre a cicloexenona. Os estudos também revelaram que CoO é a espécie mais ativa quando comparado com Co2+, Co3O4 e Fe3O4 nas mesmas condições reacionais. O catalisador de CoO foi empregado na oxidação de monoterpenos mostrando alta seletividade para a formação dos produtos alílicos, resultando em derivados oxigenados altamente valiosos para a indústria de fragrâncias. / This master thesis describes the synthesis and characterization of a magnetically recoverable CoO catalyst for allylic oxidation of alkenes. The catalyst was prepared through the deposition of the catalytic active metal nanoparticles of 2-3 nm on silica-coated magnetite nanoparticles. The magnetic nature of the support allowed the easy separation of catalyst from the reaction medium after the completion of the reaction by simply placing a magnet on the reactor wall.The magnetic separation technique used was able to completely isolate the solid from the liquid phase, making the use of other separation methods such as filtration and centrifugation, commonly used in liquid heterogeneous systems, unnecessary.The catalyst was initially tested in the oxidation of cyclohexene, as a model substrate, and showed high selectivity to the formation of the allylic product, cyclohex-2-en-1-one, an interesting starting reactant for many reactions in the chemical industry. The oxidation reactions were performed using O2 as primary oxidant, eliminating the use of toxic oxidants such as chromate or permanganate, which are not environmentally friendly. The synthesized catalyst was found to be reusable in successive runs, with the increasing selectivity to the allylic ketone as the catalyst lost its activity. The leaching of active species to the reaction medium, a common problem in heterogeneous catalysis, was not observed. A kinetic study showed that even at initial times the catalyst is selective for the allylic oxidation despite the direct oxidation, which leads to the formation of the epoxy product. For all reactions studied in different times, the product was always cyclohexenone. The studies also revealed that CoO is the most active species when compared to Co2+, Co3O4 and Fe3O4 in the catalytic conditions studied. The CoO catalyst was used in the oxidation of monoterpenes and showed high selectivity for the allylic products, giving oxygenate derivatives of highly value for flagrance industry.

Le développement rapide des télécommunications soulève de nombreux challenges pour l’amélioration des performances des composants électroniques. Parmi eux, les filtres à mode commun sont particulièrement importants pour la téléphonie. Ils permettent d’éliminer le bruit parasite des signaux électriques et doivent présenter des propriétés optimisées jusqu’aux hautes fréquences (GHz). Ces propriétés dépendent des inductances qui les composent et peuvent donc être significativement augmentées par l’addition d’une couche magnétique douce. Le matériau choisit doit être isolant, posséder une forte perméabilité magnétique et une fréquence de résonnance ferromagnétique la plus élevée possible. Dans le cadre du projet d’Investissement d’Avenir TOURS 2015 porté par STMicroelectronics, nous avons développé des matériaux composites à base de nanoparticules (NPs) de FeCo. Nous avons développé une synthèse basée sur la co-décomposition d’amidures de Fe et de Co [Fe(N(Si(CH3)3)2)2]2 et de Co(N(Si(CH3)3)2)2,THF). L’ajustement des paramètres de synthèse permet le contrôle de la taille (1 à 80 nm), de la forme (sphères, cubes, octaèdres) et de la composition (50< Fe %<70) des nanoparticules obtenues. Ces NPs de FeCo sont cristallines, de structure cubique centrée, et possèdent des aimantations à saturation proche de l’alliage massif, et ce, sans nécessiter de traitement thermique post-synthèse. Une étude approfondie combinant EELS, spectroscopie Mössbauer, RMN du 59Co en champ nul et DRX en condition anomale, a révélé que la phase ordonnée B2 de l’alliage FeCo, pouvait même être stabilisée au sein des nanoparticules dans certaines conditions de synthèse. Ce résultat est unique pour des nanoparticules obtenues par voie chimique. Afin d’augmenter significativement les propriétés des inductances une structure sandwich a été préparée : l’inductance repose sur un substrat de silicium poreux chargé de NPS de FeCo, et un composite époxy/NPs FeCo la recouvre. Deux matériaux composites à base de nanoparticules de FeCo ont été développés : - Une solution colloïdale a été utilisée pour imprégner du silicium mésoporeux (pores de 25-30 nm de diamètres), avec un taux de remplissage de 10,1 gFeCo.m-2 sur 18 μm de profondeur. - Des pastilles de résine époxy chargée en NPs avec une fraction massique de 30 % ont été préparées pour la partie supérieure de l’inductance. Des analyses MEB et MET confirment la bonne dispersion des NPs dans le polymère. Après report sur des inductances planaires, une augmentation d’impédance de 17 % a été obtenue. Enfin, au cours de ce projet, une structure originale d’octopodes de FeCo a été obtenue. Leur structure 3D, caractérisée par tomographie électronique, conduit à des configurations magnétiques inédites, étudiées par holographie électronique. / The continuous development of telecommunication requires permanent enhancement of electronic component performances. Among them, common mode filters play a key role to cancel perturbations and thus noise in electrical transmissions. For telephony purposes, these filters must exhibit optimized properties up to high frequency ranges (GHz). These properties depend strongly on the constitutive inductors, and therefore can be significantly enhanced by the addition of a soft magnetic layer, providing that the magnetic material chosen is insulating with a high magnetic permeability and a ferromagnetic resonance frequency above the GHz.In the framework of the project “Investissement d’Avenir TOURS 2015” initiated by STMicroelectronics, we prepared composite materials loaded with FeCo nanoparticles (NPs). We developed a new chemical synthesis of FeCo NPs based on the decomposition of organometallic precursors ([Fe(N(Si(CH3)3)2)2]2 and Co(N(Si(CH3)3)2)2,THF). NP’s size (1 to 80 nm), shape (sphere, cube, and octahedron) and composition (50< Fe %< 70) can be tuned by adjusting the reaction conditions. Without requiring any annealing treatment, these FeCo NPs are highly crystalline in the body centered cubic structure and exhibit magnetic properties close to the bulk ones. A careful study, combining EELS, Mössbauer spectoscopy, zero field 59Co NMR and XRD with anomalous dispersion effect, evidenced the stabilization of the chemically ordered FeCo B2 structure under specific reaction conditions. This is the first time that such ordered structure is reported in chemically synthesized nanoparticles.In order to significantly enhance the inductors properties, a sandwich structure has been designed where the inductors are integrated on a mesoporous silicium substrate filled with FeCo NPs while an epoxy resin/FeCo Nps composite materials is deposited on top. In this aim, two FeCo nanoparticles based composite materials has been developed: - mesoporous silicium substrate exhibiting a loading of 10.1 gFeCo.m-2 were obtained through colloidal solution impregnation. The nanoparticles filled the 25-30 nm pores all along their 18 μm depth. - epoxy resin filled with nanoparticles (30% in mass) were prepared. SEM and TEM analysis confirmed that the nanoparticles are well dispersed in the polymer. After integration onto planar inductors, an increase of 17 % of the inductance value has been observed.During this project, exotic shape NPs such as FeCo octapods could be obtained. Their 3D structure, characterized by electron tomography leads to exotic magnetic configurations which were studied by electron holography.

The potential of magnetic nanoparticle-vesicle assemblies (MNP-V) as remote controlled drug delivery platforms capable of inducing cellular responses under magnetic stimuli has been previously demonstrated in the Webb group at the University of Manchester. To create these magnetoresponsive nanomaterials biotin-avidin and Cu-histidinyl multivalent recognition were employed. This thesis describes an exploration of the potential of thiol-thioester exchange reactions (leading to native chemical ligation, NCL) to create magnetoresponsive materials, which potentially have applications in biomedicine. Firstly, iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles have been synthesised using a thermal co-precipitation method followed by chemical modification with sulfhydryl motifs for use as smart biomaterials. Knowing that the behaviour and reactivity of nanoparticles is highly influenced by their physicochemical properties, a thourough characterisation of these particles has been obtained. Secondly, during this project, several thioester derivatives have been synthesised that can be incorporated into the membranes of 800 nm liposomes. Among these, the spectrophotometric properties of synthetic lipid 38 allowed the investigation of trans-thioesterification rates with cysteinyl functionalities, both in solution and at the phospholipid membrane interface of liposomes. Product identification has been achieved using mass spectrometry and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Finally, the conditions required to induce the release of a dye (e.g. 5(6)-CF) from MNP-V upon exposure to an AMF pulse have been established. Aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), a general inhibitor of nucleases has been investigated as interesting payload due to its fluorescent and anti-viral properties.

While many investigations have been performed to establish a better understanding of the effects that magnetic fields and nanoparticles have on cells, the fundamental mechanisms behind the interactions are still yet unknown, and investigations on concurrent exposure are quite limited in scope. This study was therefore established to investigate the biological impact of concurrent exposure to magnetic nanoparticles and extremely-low frequency magnetic fields using an in-vitro CHO-K1 cell line model, in an easily reproducible manner to establish grounds for further in-depth mechanistic, proteomic, and genomic studies. Cells were cultured and exposed to 10nm Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and DC or low frequency (0Hz, 50Hz, and 100Hz) 2.0mT magnetic fields produced by a Helmholtz coil pair. The cells were then observed under confocal fluorescence microscopy, and subject to MTT biological assay to determine the synergistic effects of these concurrent exposures. No effects were observed on cell morphology or microtubule network; however, cell viability was observed to decrease more drastically under the combined effects of magnetic field and nanoparticle exposures, as compared to independent exposures alone. It was concluded that no significant difference was observed between the types of magnetic fields, and their effects on the nanoparticle exposed cells, but quite clearly there are deleterious synergistic effects of these concurrent magnetic field and nanoparticle exposure conditions.