Fabrication and characterization of ultra-thin magnetic films for biomedical applications

Polymeric ultra-thin films, so called nanosheets, show peculiar properties making them potentially useful for several applications in biomedicine. Moreover, the possibility to functionalize these films by using different agents opens new and partially unexplored scenarios, including micro/nano sensing and actuation. This paper compares two different methods for the preparation of free-standing nanosheets, loaded with magnetic particles for no-contact manipulation in liquid environment. Morphology and functionalities of the two types of nanosheets have been characterized and compared. These magnetic nanosheets could find applications as free-standing carriers to be released and controlled in endoluminal surgery or as plasters with nanometric thickness to be delivered in situ on surgical incisions.