Magnetic Nanoparticles as Mechanical Actuators of Inner Ear Hair Cells
Abstract
The collaborative project was designed to develop the use of magnetic nanoparticles to manipulate auditory hair cells. Superparamagnetic particles were chemically modified so as to attach to stereocilia of the hair bundle. An electromagnet, positioned in the vicinity of a selected cell by a micromanipulator, was then used to apply a periodic force on the attached particle. We demonstrated that this system could be used to deflect hair bundles at frequencies up to 10 kHz. This technical breakthrough opens new possibilities for generalizing our nonlinear dynamics studies to higher frequencies auditory. The technique was applied to study higher-order phase-locking of oscillatory hair cells by an imposed drive. The results provided a potential model for how innate active bundle motility could be harnessed to detect higher frequency signals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 13, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1001848
Entities
People
- Dolores Bozovic
- Jin woo Cheon
Organizations
- University of California