Unified drift-diffusion theory for transverse spin currents in spin valves, domain walls, and other textured magnets.

Spins transverse to the magnetization of a ferromagnet only survive over a short distance. We develop a drift-diffusion approach that captures the main features of transverse spin effects in systems with arbitrary spin textures (e.g., vortices and domain walls) and generalizes the Valet-Fert theory. In addition to the standard characteristic lengths (mean free path for majority and minority electrons, and spin diffusion length), the theory introduces two length scales, the transverse spin coherence length ℓ(⊥) and the (Larmor) spin precession length ℓ(L). We show how ℓ(L) and ℓ(⊥) can be extracted from ab initio calculations or measured with giant magnetoresistance experiments. In long (adiabatic) domain walls, we provide an analytic formula that expresses the so-called "nonadiabatic" (or fieldlike) torque in terms of these length scales. However, this nonadiabatic torque is no longer a simple material parameter but depends on the actual spin texture: in thin (<10 nm) domain walls, we observe very significant deviations from the adiabatic limit.

Near-infrared image-guided delivery and controlled release using optimized thermosensitive liposomes.

PURPOSE: To engineer optimized near-infrared (NIR) active thermosensitive liposomes to potentially achieve image-guided delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS: Thermosensitive liposomes were surface-coated with either polyethylene glycol or dextran. Differential scanning calorimetry and calcein release studies were conducted to optimize liposomal release, and flow cytometry was employed to determine the in vitro macrophage uptake of liposomes. Indocyanine green (ICG) was encapsulated as the NIR dye to evaluate the in vivo biodistribution in tumor-bearing mice. RESULTS: The optimized thermosensitive liposome formulation consists of DPPC, SoyPC, and cholesterol in the 100:50:30 molar ratio. Liposomes with dextran and polyethylene glycol demonstrated similar thermal release properties; however in vitro macrophage uptake was greater with dextran. Non-invasive in vivo NIR imaging showed tumor accumulation of liposomes with both coatings, and ex vivo NIR imaging correlated well with actual ICG concentrations in various organs of healthy mice. CONCLUSIONS: The optimized thermosensitive liposome formulation demonstrated stability at 37 °C and efficient burst release at 40 and 42 °C. Dextran exhibited potential for application as a surface coating in thermosensitive liposome formulations. In vivo studies suggest that liposomal encapsulation of ICG permits reliable, real-time monitoring of liposome biodistribution through non-invasive NIR imaging.