Different methods for the fractionation of magnetic fluids

Magnetic fluids are used in many fields of application, such as material separation and biomedicine. Magnetic fluids consist of magnetic nanoparticles, which commonly display a broad distribution of magnetic and nonmagnetic parameters. Therefore, upon application only a small number of particles contribute to the desired magnetic effect. In order to optimize magnetic fluids for applications preference is given to methods that separate magnetic nanoparticles according to their magnetic properties. Hence, a magnetic method was developed for the fractionation of magnetic fluids. Familiar size-exclusion chromatography of two different magnetic fluids was carried out for comparison. The fractions obtained and the original samples were also magnetically characterized by magnetic resonance and magnetorelaxometry, two biomedical applications. The size-exclusion fractions are similar to those of magnetic fractionation, despite the different separation mechanisms. In this respect, magnetic fractionation has several advantages in practical use over size-exclusion chromatography: the magnetic method is faster and has a higher capacity. The fractions obtained by both methods show distinctly different magnetic properties compared to the original samples and are therefore especially suited for applications such as magnetorelaxometry.