Magnetically responsive elastic microspheres

We report the design, fabrication, and characterization of magnetically responsive elastic microspheres consisting of polydimethylsioxane (PDMS) and magnetic nano-/microparticles. The microspheres can have either core-shell or solid structure, fabricated by using a microfluidic technique. The mechanical characteristics are determined with a modified electronic balance, and the results show that the microspheres exhibit magnetostrictive effect. Such microspheres can in addition behave as a smart material controllable through an external magnetic field. Owing to the transparency, biocompatibility and nontoxicity of PDMS, the magnetically responsive elastic microspheres may have potential applications in drug delivery, biosensing, bioseparation, and medical diagnosis. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.