Directional Particle Delivery Using Freestanding BTO/LSMO Magnetoelectric Scrolls
Qian Cao1, Nan Zhan1, Nan Sun1
1The Materials and Electronics Research Center (MERC), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|September 12, 2025
Summary
Researchers created freestanding magnetoelectric scrolls from barium titanate (BTO) and lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO) films. These biocompatible scrolls can encapsulate drugs and be magnetically guided for targeted delivery and medical procedures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Freestanding magnetoelectric films offer potential for advanced technologies and medicine.
- Existing fabrication methods often lack control over complex 3D architectures.
- Need for biocompatible, magnetically responsive materials for biomedical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize self-rolling barium titanate (BTO) and La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) multilayer films.
- To investigate the programmable transition from 2D to 3D magnetoelectric scrolls.
- To evaluate the dual functionalities of drug simulant encapsulation and magnetic actuation for biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of BTO/LSMO multilayer heterostructures using water-soluble sacrificial layers.
- Characterization of film morphology, self-rolling mechanism, and tunable scroll diameters via layer thickness modulation.
- Assessment of drug simulant encapsulation (polystyrene microparticles) and magnetic field-actuated movement.
- Biocompatibility testing using hemolysis assays.
Main Results:
- Achieved programmable transition from 2D to 3D magnetoelectric scrolls with controllable diameters.
- Demonstrated dual functionality: encapsulation of microparticles and magnetically directed movement at room temperature.
- Confirmed biocompatibility of the BTO/LSMO scrolls.
- Identified strain relaxation and ferroelasticity as key mechanisms for self-assembly.
Conclusions:
- Freestanding BTO/LSMO magnetoelectric scrolls are successfully fabricated with tunable 3D architectures.
- These scrolls exhibit promising capabilities for drug delivery, bladder lavage, and thrombus removal.
- The developed materials represent a significant advancement in stimuli-responsive, magnetically navigable biomaterials.
