Events & Announcements

Magnetic nanostructures for emerging biomedical applications
Rafael Morales (University of the Basque Country)

Magnetic materials have become key components in modern biomedicine, enabling remote actuation and minimally invasive approaches. Superparamagnetic nanoparticles, typical produced by chemical synthesis, have been extensively investigated for a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including magnetic resonance imaging, drug delivery, and magnetic hyperthermia. In parallel, advances in top-down nanofabrication techniques have expanded the landscape of magnetic nanomaterials, enabling the development of nanostructures with engineered spin configurations, such as magnetic vortices and synthetic antiferromagnets. This presentation will discuss the fabrication and magnetic properties of the nanostructures. Their biomedical potential will be illustrated through in vitro studies on magneto-mechanical cancer therapy, neural stimulation, magnetic biosensing, and remote cell manipulation.

A Quantum Description of the Nervous System
Pavlo Mikheenko (Department of Physics, University of Oslo)

Quantum biology proved to be very successful in incorporating non-trivial quantum effects in photosynthesis, enzymes activity, and birds‘ navigation. Extending this activity, biological organisms are analysed from a point of view of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics with a focus on their nervous system. It is concluded that quantum description of the nervous system could be reduced to a single, basic quantum effect of superconductivity, which takes place in the microtubules. The evidence of superconductivity in the microtubules will be given, and specifics of its quasi-one-dimensional character emphasized. The generation of coherent Josephson radiation coming from the connections of microtubules during the propagation of action potential will be introduced and its importance for functioning of living organisms discussed.