MSE PhD Prospectus Defense of Jin Yu

TITLE: Developing Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle System with Controllable Aggregability and Magnetic Properties

ABSTRACT: Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) have great utility to many fields ranging from petroleum oil recovery to biomedical therapeutics. Over the past 40 years, many SPION systems have shown great performance under simple experimental conditions. However, many SPION systems aggregate uncontrollably after being introduced into more complex environments, such as high salinity environments or biological environments. The reason for such aggregation is that van der Waals attraction and steric repulsion forces are out of balance between the SPIONs. Computer simulations and molecular theory have shown SPIONs dispersion/aggregation can be controlled by three parameters: SPION core size, polymer surface coating, and coating surface density. In this thesis, we propose to develop a robust SPION system, in which aggregation/dispersion can be controlled in different environments. We further study and improve the magnetic properties of the SPION system with controllable cluster size. In this thesis, we will address two fields of applications: petroleum recovery, and cancer nanomedicine treatment.

COMMITTEE: Joyce Wong, MSE/BME; Xuemei Zhong, BUSM, Hematology and Medical Oncology; Linda Doerrer, MSE/Chemistry; Laura Lewis, Northeastern University, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering