magnetictweezer
Magnetictweezer is a term used to describe a class of experimental methods that use magnetic fields to apply controlled forces and torques to microscopic beads tethered to biomolecules or cells. In practice, magnetictweezer systems employ magnetic beads functionalized to bind molecules of interest. By placing beads in a spatially varying magnetic field generated by permanent magnets, electromagnets, or microfabricated coils, a force is exerted along the field gradient. Rotating or oscillating fields can also apply torque. Beads of diameters typically 0.5–5 micrometers are used; forces commonly range from a fraction of a piconewton to tens of piconewtons, enabling single-molecule manipulation over timescales from seconds to hours.
Because of the low mechanical noise and slow drift, magnetictweezer enables long-duration measurements of molecular extension,
Calibration and data interpretation in magnetictweezer experiments rely on known force models, bead tracking, and thermal