The choice of 8 to 10 nm particle d

The choice of 8 to 10 nm particle diameters is based on thehigh avidity in cell binding events exhibited by immunoglobulinM pentamer ((IgM)5, whose finite size is 8 to 10 nm). Aspostulated in Fig. 2, when ligands or receptors are decoratedappropriately on the surface of a magnetic nanoparticle, interms of multivalent binding, the particle may act as anartificial (IgM)5 or a ‘‘magnetic artificial antibody’’. That is, itmay bind to a target cell with high or maximum valence underoptimal conditions. This kind of biofunctional magneticnanoparticle (D + 2h = 8 to 10 nm) might provide the highestpossible selectivity and sensitivity.