Flexible magnetic microtubules structured by lipids and magnetic nanoparticles.

This study presents a microtubule that responds to a magnetic field. We made such a structure by incorporating iron oxide nanoparticles during the preparation of the microtubule. We found that the microtubule stretches its body when the magnetic field is applied and easily aligns with the direction of the applied magnetic field by rotating its body. When the magnetic field is removed, it loses its orientation and goes back to its original state by contraction. From the analysis of its magnetic response, we estimated that the magnetic microtubule had an elastic modulus of 33 MPa. Further analysis showed that the stretching and contracting of its body are due to its flexibility.