A high field gradient magnet for magnetic drug targeting

A magnet for Magnetic Drug Targeting was designed, built and tested. The magnet applies a magnetic force on ferrofluids coupled with therapeutic agents for medical and biological applications, e.g. for regional treatment of cancer. The application for cancer treatment requires a high magnetic field gradient in the application volume around and inside the tumor. Furthermore the magnet should have low mass and size combined with an appropriate geometry for easy handling and positioning near the patient, as well as a surface temperature below 40 degrees C. The gradient of the magnetic field, which determines the magnetic force for small single-domain ferromagnetic particles, ranges from 100 T/m at the pole tip to a minimum of 10 Urn in an application volume of (20 mm)(3) and points inwardly to the center of the pole tip.