SQUID Sensor

We have designed a multi-channel superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensor system to magnetize our specialized nanoparticles and measure their relaxation. Using this system we have obtained detailed magnetic moment and spatial information of targeted nanoparticles using cell cultures, animal models, and custom-built “phantoms” of human organs. Because the magnetic moments are linear with the number of attached nanoparticles, we can accurately determine the number of target cells using our system.

The unique attributes of our SQUID sensor relaxometry device include:

• The ability to clearly distinguish targeted cells from surrounding tissue, due to our ability to detect bound particles with high specificity, differentiating it from MRI or PET
• The magnetic fields emanating from our nanoparticles freely traverse the surrounding tissue to the sensors without perturbation at the frequencies measured—the body is transparent to these fields. This implies that scarring, the presence of various body organs between tumor and sensor, and changes in tissue density will not affect the localization of the target signal as is the case with X-rays and ultrasound
• Our device is relatively inexpensive, compared to other detection devices, and the doses of magnetic nanoparticles and antibodies required are minimal
• The device measures magnetic fields a billion times smaller than the earth’s magnetic field

• Sensitivity