Patent ID: 8529428

Claim:
A method of increasing fluid flow within vasculature of a subject through external magnetomotive manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles introduced within the vasculature, the method comprising: introducing a therapeutic agent within vasculature of a subject, the therapeutic agent configured to have a therapeutic effect on a therapeutic target within the vasculature; administering a therapeutically effective amount of magnetic nanoparticles within the vasculature, causing a magnet external to the vasculature to generate a rotating magnetic field and a directed magnetic gradient in a manner sufficient to cause the magnetic nanoparticles to agglomerate to form a plurality of magnetic nanoparticle rods within the vasculature and to travel within the vasculature toward a therapeutic target in an end over end walking motion in response to the rotating magnetic field and the directed magnetic gradient of the magnet; and causing the magnetic nanoparticle rods to generate a circulating fluid motion within the vasculature proximal to the therapeutic target by adjusting at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: a rotational frequency of the rotating magnetic field, a plane of the rotating magnetic field with respect to the therapeutic target, and a distance of the rotating magnetic field with respect to the therapeutic target, wherein the circulating fluid motion facilitates contact of the therapeutic agent with the therapeutic target by enhancing diffusion of the therapeutic agent to the region of the blood vessel proximal to the therapeutic target and by refreshing contact of the therapeutic target with the therapeutic agent, thereby providing more effective interaction of the therapeutic agent with the therapeutic target.