Effects of High Magnetic Fields on Diffusion of Biologically Active Molecules

The diffusion of biologically active molecules is a ubiquitous process, controlling many mechanisms and the characteristic time scales for pivotal processes in living cells. Here, we show how a high static magnetic field (MF) affects the diffusion of paramagnetic and diamagnetic species, including oxygen, hemoglobin, ROS and drugs. We derive and solve the equation describing diffusion of such biologically active molecules in the presence of a MF as well as reveal the underlying mechanism of the MF effect on diffusion. We find that a high MF accelerates diffusion of diamagnetic species while slowing the diffusion of paramagnetic molecules in cell cytoplasm. When applied to oxygen and hemoglobin diffusion in red blood cells, our results suggest that a MF may significantly alter the gas exchange in an erythrocyte and cause swelling. Our prediction that the diffusion rate and characteristic time can be controlled by a MF opens new avenues for experimental studies foreseeing numerous biomedical applications.