Microbeads transport

Figure 3. Magnetic microbead transport in a cylindrical capillary over long-range distances using an array of simple planar cods (coil diameter = 3.5 mm). Transport of magnetic beads (1 pm diameter, Promega) is enabled by sequential actuation of the coils in a three-phase scheme (1,2, 3) (1 =+1 A) [16].

Cheng, T., R. Langer, and J.C. Weaver. 1999. Charged microbeads are not transported across the human stratum corneum in vitro by short high-voltage pulses. Bioelectrochem Bioenerg 48 181. 

A. Rida, V. Fernandez, and M.A.M. Gijs Long-range transport of magnetic microbeads using simple planar coils placed in a uniform magnetostatic field Applied Physics Letters 83, 2396-2398 (2003). 

Motor proteins can lead to superdiffusive transport of engulfed microbeads in living eukaryotic cells with y = 1.47 0.07 for short times, up to the order of... 

Moslemy P, Neufeld RJ, Millette D, Guiot SR.Transport of geDan gum microbeads through sand an experimental ewduation for encapsulated ceU bioaugmentation.J Environ Manag 2003 69 249-59. 

The preceding chapters used brief case studies to illustrate key points. This chapter examines the life cycle of four substances in greater detail. Three of these substances, orthonitrochlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, and hexa-chlorobenzene, share a basic chlorinated benzene structure. The degree of chlorination and the presence of other functional groups affect their properties, usage, fate and transport in the environment, and (eco)toxicity. These substances also differ in their uses, which influences the potential for exposure. The remaining case study examines microbeads, a product whose size determines in part its life cycle. 

Surface water flow may transporf microbeads until they degrade, are ingested by organisms, wash up on a shoreline, or perhaps, come to rest in sediments. Those fate and transport processes are described briefly below the potential for organisms to ingesf microbeads is discussed in Ihe overview of (eco)toxicological concerns. 

Althou this work did not focus specifically on microbeads, the studies described above came to two relevant conclusions hydrophobic compounds can partition into plastic debris and the relative mass transported in that fashion may be limited. Section 4.4.5 further discusses (eco)toxicological concerns relative to these findings. 

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