The Effect of Magnetic Field Gradients on Self-Assembled Magnetic Nanoparticle Arrays to Mimic Protein Conformation
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Physics
Presentation Type
Mentored
Written Paper Award
3rd Place
Abstract
Nanotechnology, the term used to denote machinery that operates on the nanoscale, holds boundless potential for new technologies for industrial and medical products. However, while many methods have been proposed for the manufacture of nanostructures, nanotechnology is difficult to produce on a mass scale, and therefore ineligible for the current market. Since biological nanotechnology is omnipresent in biological systems, several of the aforementioned proposals utilized biomimicry in their designs. Continuing this trend, the purpose of the experiment was to test if mimicking the conformation of polypeptide chains in proteins with magnetic nanoparticles was feasible. The hypothesis was that if a magnetic field gradient was applied to a pattern, then the pattern may conform in a way similar to that of protein conformation. This was tested by observing the change of the magnetic field strength during the conformation. This is because magnetic nanoparticles hold similar attractive and repulsive properties as the biochemical forces in proteins, so they could be used to replicate phenomena akin to protein conformation. The hypothesis was tested by utilizing hard disk drives that stored information using magnetic fields to produce patterns by dropping ferrofluid made from Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto the disk drive. The nanoparticles formed based on the pattern inscribed on the disk drive, after which the nanoparticles were removed with a polymer film and a magnetic field gradient and were applied in an attempt to trigger a change. The magnetometer’s measurements indicate that no noticeable change occurred in the magnetic field strength of the patterns after the field gradient had been applied. So while the number of trials were limited, the null hypothesis failed to be rejected.
Recommended Citation
Pan, Alex, "The Effect of Magnetic Field Gradients on Self-Assembled Magnetic Nanoparticle Arrays to Mimic Protein Conformation" (2023). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 107.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2023/all/107
Location
ECL 114
Start Date
3-25-2023 9:15 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Magnetic Field Gradients on Self-Assembled Magnetic Nanoparticle Arrays to Mimic Protein Conformation
ECL 114
Nanotechnology, the term used to denote machinery that operates on the nanoscale, holds boundless potential for new technologies for industrial and medical products. However, while many methods have been proposed for the manufacture of nanostructures, nanotechnology is difficult to produce on a mass scale, and therefore ineligible for the current market. Since biological nanotechnology is omnipresent in biological systems, several of the aforementioned proposals utilized biomimicry in their designs. Continuing this trend, the purpose of the experiment was to test if mimicking the conformation of polypeptide chains in proteins with magnetic nanoparticles was feasible. The hypothesis was that if a magnetic field gradient was applied to a pattern, then the pattern may conform in a way similar to that of protein conformation. This was tested by observing the change of the magnetic field strength during the conformation. This is because magnetic nanoparticles hold similar attractive and repulsive properties as the biochemical forces in proteins, so they could be used to replicate phenomena akin to protein conformation. The hypothesis was tested by utilizing hard disk drives that stored information using magnetic fields to produce patterns by dropping ferrofluid made from Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto the disk drive. The nanoparticles formed based on the pattern inscribed on the disk drive, after which the nanoparticles were removed with a polymer film and a magnetic field gradient and were applied in an attempt to trigger a change. The magnetometer’s measurements indicate that no noticeable change occurred in the magnetic field strength of the patterns after the field gradient had been applied. So while the number of trials were limited, the null hypothesis failed to be rejected.
