New Perspectives in Science Education

With the continuing corona situation, science has also moved closer to the focus of society, with research into new vaccines and therapeutic options being the central focus. It is therefore appropriate to take up this current interest in science & medicine at school, which has been intensified by the media, and to address medical topics in MINT lessons in order to motivate female students in particular [1,2].  However, in addition to corona, diseases such as cancer or MRSA continue to be a subject of medical research as well. A promising approach for the treatment of cancer and many other diseases is Nanotechnology. For example, nanomaterials can be used as a transport system for active ingredients to transport drugs more specifically to the place where they should actually work. It is therefore also known as "drug delivery" or "drug targeting" [3]. However, the nanomaterial itself can also be the object of treatment by being used as an active ingredient or tool for a therapy. Silver nanomaterials are considered a promising candidate for treatment against resistant germs [4]. Magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) are an important material for both approaches. Due to their outstanding magnetic properties, their good biocompatibility and good availability, they are the subject of many research projects and offer great hope for modern medical solutions either as part of a carrier system or for example by using their magnetic properties to induce heat with Eddy Current [5]. The synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles with educational means is already sufficiently documented and ferrofluids are already available for purchase at low cost on the Internet. This results in the combination of medicine and nanotechnology, which provides a wide range of learning opportunities for MINT education. In this contribution will be shown how magnetite nanoparticles can be synthesized with simple school chemicals and stabilized as ferrofluids. Subsequently, the ferrofluid will be used in a model experiment to illustrate the hypothermic treatment of tumour cells and first practical experiences with students in the student laboratory will be presented.

Keywords: nanotechnology, ferrofluid, medicine. 

References:

1. N. Holstermann, S. Bögeholz, ZfDN 2007, 13, 71-86.
2. P. M. Sadler, G. Sonnert, Z. Hazari, R. Tai, Sci. Ed. 2012, 3, 411-427.
3. J. Shi, A. R. Votruba, O. C. Farokhzad, R. Langer, Nano letters 2010, 9, 3223-3230.
4. S. Prabhu, E. K. Poulose, Int Nano Lett 2012, 1, 398.
5. A. J. Giustini, A. A. Petryk, S. M. Cassim, J. A. Tate, I. Baker, P. J. Hoopes, Nano LIFE 2010, 1n02.