Localized nanoscale induction by single domain magnetic particles

Single domain magnetic nanoparticles are increasingly investigated as actuators of biological and chemical processes that respond to externally applied magnetic fields. Although their localized effects are frequently attributed to nanoscale heating, recent experimental evidence casts doubt on the existence of nanoscale temperature gradients in these systems. Here, using the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation and finite element modelling, we critically examine an alternative hypothesis that localized effects may be mediated by the induced electric fields arising from the detailed dynamical behavior of individual single domain magnetic particles. We apply our model to two significant case studies of magnetic nanoparticles in alternating magnetic fields: 1) magnetogenetic stimulation of channel proteins associated with ferritin and 2) catalytic enhancement of electrochemical hydrolysis. For the first case, while the local electric fields that ferritin generates are shown to be insufficient to perturb the transmembrane potential, fields on the surface of its mineral core on the order of 10 to 10 V/m may play a role in mass transport or release of iron ions that indirectly lead to stimulation. For the second case, our model indicates electric fields of approximately 300V/m on the surface of the catalytic particles, with the highest interfacial electric field strengths expected during reversal events. This suggests that the nanoparticles best suited for hysteresis heating would also act as intermittent sources of localized induced electric fields in response to an alternating applied field. Finally, we put the magnitude and timescale of these electric fields in the context of technologically relevant phenomena, showing that they are generally weaker and faster.