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Magnetic biosensor technologies for medical applications: a review

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Abstract

In this review we discuss conventional methods of performing biological assays and molecular identification and highlight their advantages and limitations. An alternative approach based on magnetic nanotechnology is then presented. Firstly, magnetic carriers are introduced and their biocompatibility and functionalisation discussed, with spotlights on functionalisation via self assembled monolayers and on methods of reducing nonspecific binding. In addition an introduction is provided to the basic physical concepts behind the various types of sensors used to detect magnetic labels. Finally, progress in the field of magnetic biosensors and the outlook for the future are discussed.

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Notes

  1. ‘Traditional’ DNA microarray technology is widely considered to have been developed at Stanford University, whereas the ‘DNA chip’ was pioneered by Affymetrix Inc. under their GeneChip® trademark, although a recent article by Ekins and Chu [37] seems to provide commonly forgotten facts about the origins of microarrays. This paper will refer to the two kinds interchangeably.

  2. For more information on amplification methods and related issues, we refer to [154] and references therein.

  3. Illumina’s terminators and method of removing them is proprietary, but for information about a similar technology we refer to [76].

  4. For a review of highly parallel synthesis-based assays, see [42] and references therein.

  5. QDS are colloidal nanocrystals of substances such as CdSe, CdS, ZnSe, CdTe and PbSe, which emit highly monodisperse radiation when stimulated by UV light [108].

  6. It should be noted that this experimental procedure differs from that proposed in [17] for this geometry, which demands Hall voltage detection at the second harmonic, and requires a much lower DC field (4.6 mT as compared to 32 mT).

  7. An example is the ‘barber-pole’ sensor [82], which constrains the current to travel always at 45° to the dominant magnetisation direction in order to linearise the AMR.

  8. Carefully designed multilayer spin-valves can have MR of over 20% [67]. Simple trilayer systems like those described here have MR percentages of ≤ 10%.

  9. Domain walls are the transitional regions between areas of different magnetisation orientation.

Abbreviations

AFM:

Atomic force microscope

AMR:

Anisotropic magnetoresistance

CIP:

Current in-plane

CPP:

Current perpendicular-to-plane

dNTPs:

Deoxynucleotide triphosphates

FM:

Ferromagnet

FET:

Field effect transistor

FRET:

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer

GMR:

Giant magnetoresistance

MR:

Magnetoresistance

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

μTAS:

Microscopic total analysis systems

MTJ:

Magnetic tunnel junction

NHS:

N-Hydroxysuccinimide

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

PEG:

Poly(ethylene) glycol

PSV:

Pseudo-spin-valve

QDs:

Quantum dots

RT:

Room temperature

SAM:

Self assembled monolayer

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

SQUID:

Super-conducting quantum interference device

SV:

Spin-valve

TMR:

Tunnelling magnetoresistance

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We would like to thank the EPSRC for financial support.

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  1. Cavendish Laboratory, J.J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK

    J. Llandro, J. J. Palfreyman, A. Ionescu & C. H. W. Barnes

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Llandro, J., Palfreyman, J.J., Ionescu, A. et al. Magnetic biosensor technologies for medical applications: a review. Med Biol Eng Comput 48, 977–998 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-010-0649-3

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