The thermal performances based on the interaction of nanoparticles are the topic of great interest in recent years. In the current continuation, we have utilized the activation energy and thermal radiation consequences in the bioconvection flow of magnetized Oldroyd-B nanoparticles over a stretching cylinder. As a novelty, the second order slip features (Wu’s slip) and convective Nield boundary assumptions are also introduced for the flow situation. The heat performances of nanofluids are captured with an evaluation of the famous Buongiorno’s model which enables us to determine the attractive features of Brownian motion and thermophoretic diffusion. The suggested thermal system is based on the flow velocity, nanoparticles temperature, nanoparticles volume fraction and motile microorganisms. The governing flow equations for the flow problem are constituted with relevant references for which numerically solution is developed via shooting algorithm. A detailed graphically analysis for the assisted flow problem is performed in view of the involved parameters. Although some studies are available in the literature which deals with the flow of various fluids over-stretching cylinder, the phenomenon of bioconvection and other interesting features are not reported yet. Therefore, present scientific computations are performed to fill this gap and the reported results can be more useful for the enhancement of thermal extrusion processes, solar energy systems, and biofuels.