Signal enhancement in cantilever magnetometry based on a co-resonantly coupled sensor

Cantilever magnetometry is a measurement technique used to study magnetic nanoparticles. With decreasing sample size, the signal strength is significantly reduced, requiring advances of the technique. Ultrathin and slender cantilevers can address this challenge but lead to increased complexity of detection. We present an approach based on the co-resonant coupling of a micro- and a nanometer-sized cantilever. Via matching of the resonance frequencies of the two subsystems we induce a strong interplay between the oscillations of the two cantilevers, allowing for a detection of interactions between the sensitive nanocantilever and external influences in the amplitude response curve of the microcantilever. In our magnetometry experiment we used an iron-filled carbon nanotube acting simultaneously as nanocantilever and magnetic sample. Measurements revealed an enhancement of the commonly used frequency shift signal by five orders of magnitude compared to conventional cantilever magnetometry experiments with similar nanomagnets. With this experiment we do not only demonstrate the functionality of our sensor design but also its potential for very sensitive magnetometry measurements while maintaining a facile oscillation detection with a conventional microcantilever setup

Employing electro-mechanical analogies for co-resonantly coupled cantilever sensors

Understanding the behaviour of mechanical systems can be facilitated and improved by employing electro-mechanical analogies. These analogies enable the use of network analysis tools as well as purely analytical treatment of the mechanical system translated into an electric circuit. Recently, we developed a novel kind of sensor set-up based on two coupled cantilever beams with matched resonance frequencies (co-resonant coupling) and possible applications in magnetic force microscopy and cantilever magnetometry. In order to analyse the sensor's behaviour in detail, we describe it as an electric circuit model. Starting from a simplified coupled harmonic oscillator model with neglected damping, we gradually increase the complexity of the system by adding damping and interaction elements. For each stage, various features of the coupled system are discussed and compared to measured data obtained with a co-resonant sensor. Furthermore, we show that the circuit model can be used to derive sensor parameters which are essential for the evaluation of measured data. Finally, the much more complex circuit representation of a bending beam is discussed, revealing that the simplified circuit model of a coupled harmonic oscillator is a very good representation of the sensor system

Coupled mechanical oscillator enables precise detection of nanowire flexural vibrations

The field of nanowire (NW) technology represents an exciting and steadily growing research area with applications in ultra-sensitive mass and force sensing. Existing detection methods for NW deflection and oscillation include optical and field emission approaches. However, they are challenging for detecting small diameter NWs because of the heating produced by the laser beam and the impact of the high electric field. Alternatively, the deflection of a NW can be detected indirectly by co-resonantly coupling the NW to a cantilever and measuring it using a scanning probe microscope. Here, we prove experimentally that co-resonantly coupled devices are sensitive to small force derivatives similar to standalone NWs. We detect force derivatives as small as 10−9 N/m with a bandwidth of 1 Hz at room temperature. Furthermore, the measured hybrid vibration modes show clear signatures of avoided crossing. The detection technique presented in this work verifies a major step in boosting NW-based force and mass sensing

Magnetic properties of individual Co2FeGa Heusler nanoparticles studied at room temperature by a highly sensitive co-resonant cantilever sensor

The investigation of properties of nanoparticles is an important task to pave the way for progress and new applications in many fields of research like biotechnology, medicine and magnetic storage techniques. The study of nanoparticles with ever decreasing size is a challenge for commonly employed methods and techniques. It requires increasingly complex measurement setups, often low temperatures and a size reduction of the respective sensors to achieve the necessary sensitivity and resolution. Here, we present results on how magnetic properties of individual nanoparticles can be measured at room temperature and with a conventional scanning force microscopy setup combined with a co-resonant cantilever magnetometry approach. We investigate individual Co2FeGa Heusler nanoparticles with diameters of the order of 35 nm encapsulated in carbon nanotubes. We observed, for the first time, magnetic switching of these nanoparticles in an external magnetic field by simple laser deflection detection. Furthermore, we were able to deduce magnetic properties of these nanoparticles which are in good agreement with previous results obtained with large nanoparticle ensembles in other experiments. In order to do this, we expand the analytical description of the frequency shift signal in cantilever magnetometry to a more general formulation, taking unaligned sensor oscillation directions with respect to the magnetic field into account

Pulsed-field ablation for the treatment of left atrial reentry tachycardia.

BACKGROUND We describe our initial experience using a multipolar pulsed-field ablation catheter for the treatment of left atrial (LA) reentry tachycardia. METHODS We included all patients with LA reentry tachycardia treated with PFA at our institution between September 2021 and March 2022. The tachycardia mechanism was identified using 3D electro-anatomical mapping (3D-EAM). Subsequently, a roof line, anterior line, or mitral isthmus line was ablated as appropriate. Roof line ablation was always combined with LA posterior wall (LAPW) ablation. Positioning of the PFA catheter was guided by a 3D-EAM system and by fluoroscopy. Bidirectional block across lines was verified using standard criteria. Additional radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was used to achieve bidirectional block as necessary. RESULTS Among 22 patients (median age 70 (59-75) years; 9 females), we identified 27 LA reentry tachycardia: seven roof dependent macro-reentries, one posterior-wall micro-reentry, twelve peri-mitral macro-reentries, and seven anterior-wall micro-reentries. We ablated a total of 20 roof lines, 13 anterior lines, and 6 mitral isthmus lines. Additional RFA was necessary for two anterior lines (15%) and three mitral isthmus lines (50%). Bidirectional block was achieved across all roof lines, 92% of anterior lines, and 83% of mitral isthmus lines. We observed no acute procedural complications. CONCLUSION Ablation of a roof line and of the LAPW is feasible, effective, and safe using this multipolar PFA catheter. However, the catheter is less suited for ablation of the mitral isthmus and the anterior line. A focal pulsed-field ablation catheter may be more effective for ablation of these lines. This study shows the feasibility to ablate linear lesions with a multipolar pulsed-field ablation catheter. 27 left atrial reentry tachycardia were treated in 22 patients

Magnetization Dynamics of an Individual Single-Crystalline Fe-Filled Carbon Nanotube

The magnetization dynamics of individual Fe-filled multiwall carbon-nanotubes (FeCNT), grown by chemical vapor deposition, are investigated by microresonator ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and Brillouin light scattering (BLS) microscopy and corroborated by micromagnetic simulations. Currently, only static magnetometry measurements are available. They suggest that the FeCNTs consist of a single-crystalline Fe nanowire throughout the length. The number and structure of the FMR lines and the abrupt decay of the spin-wave transport seen in BLS indicate, however, that the Fe filling is not a single straight piece along the length. Therefore, a stepwise cutting procedure is applied in order to investigate the evolution of the ferromagnetic resonance lines as a function of the nanowire length. The results show that the FeCNT is indeed not homogeneous along the full length but is built from 300 to 400 nm long single-crystalline segments. These segments consist of magnetically high quality Fe nanowires with almost the bulk values of Fe and with a similar small damping in relation to thin films, promoting FeCNTs as appealing candidates for spin-wave transport in magnonic applications. © 2019 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei

IL-2 Stimulated but Not Unstimulated NK Cells Induce Selective Disappearance of Peripheral Blood Cells: Concomitant Results to a Phase I/II Study

In an ongoing clinical phase I/II study, 16 pediatric patients suffering from high risk leukemia/tumors received highly purified donor natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy (NK-DLI) at day (+3) +40 and +100 post haploidentical stem cell transplantation. However, literature about the influence of NK-DLI on recipient's immune system is scarce. Here we present concomitant results of a noninvasive in vivo monitoring approach of recipient's peripheral blood (PB) cells after transfer of either unstimulated (NK-DLI(unstim)) or IL-2 (1000 U/ml, 9–14 days) activated NK cells (NK-DLI(IL-2 stim)) along with their ex vivo secreted cytokine/chemokines. We performed phenotypical and functional characterizations of the NK-DLIs, detailed flow cytometric analyses of various PB cells and comprehensive cytokine/chemokine arrays before and after NK-DLI. Patients of both groups were comparable with regard to remission status, immune reconstitution, donor chimerism, KIR mismatching, stem cell and NK-DLI dose. Only after NK-DLI(IL-2 stim) was a rapid, almost complete loss of CD56(bright)CD16(dim/−) immune regulatory and CD56(dim)CD16(+) cytotoxic NK cells, monocytes, dendritic cells and eosinophils from PB circulation seen 10 min after infusion, while neutrophils significantly increased. The reduction of NK cells was due to both, a decrease in patients' own CD69(−) NCR(low)CD62L(+) NK cells as well as to a diminishing of the transferred cells from the NK-DLI(IL-2 stim) with the CD56(bright)CD16(+/−)CD69(+)NCR(high)CD62L(−) phenotype. All cell counts recovered within the next 24 h. Transfer of NK-DLI(IL-2 stim) translated into significantly increased levels of various cytokines/chemokines (i.e. IFN-γ, IL-6, MIP-1β) in patients' PB. Those remained stable for at least 1 h, presumably leading to endothelial activation, leukocyte adhesion and/or extravasation. In contrast, NK-DLI(unstim) did not cause any of the observed effects. In conclusion, we assume that the adoptive transfer of NK-DLI(IL-2 stim) under the influence of ex vivo and in vivo secreted cytokines/chemokines may promote NK cell trafficking and therefore might enhance efficacy of immunotherapy

IL-27 Regulates IL-18 Binding Protein in Skin Resident Cells

IL-18 is an important mediator involved in chronic inflammatory conditions such as cutaneous lupus erythematosus, psoriasis and chronic eczema. An imbalance between IL-18 and its endogenous antagonist IL-18 binding protein (BP) may account for increased IL-18 activity. IL-27 is a cytokine with dual function displaying pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. Here we provide evidence for a yet not described anti-inflammatory mode of action on skin resident cells. Human keratinocytes and surprisingly also fibroblasts (which do not produce any IL-18) show a robust, dose-dependent and highly inducible mRNA expression and secretion of IL-18BP upon IL-27 stimulation. Other IL-12 family members failed to induce IL-18BP. The production of IL-18BP peaked between 48–72 h after stimulation and was sustained for up to 96 h. Investigation of the signalling pathway showed that IL-27 activates STAT1 in human keratinocytes and that a proximal GAS site at the IL-18BP promoter is of importance for the functional activity of IL-27. The data are in support of a significant anti-inflammatory effect of IL-27 on skin resident cells. An important novel property of IL-27 in skin pathobiology may be to counter-regulate IL-18 activities by acting on keratinocytes and importantly also on dermal fibroblasts