Magnetoresistive-based biosensors and biochips

Abstract

Over the past five years, magnetoelectronics has emerged as a promising new platform technology for biosensor and biochip development. The techniques are based on the detection of the magnetic fringe field of a magnetically labeled biomolecule interacting with a complementary biomolecule bound to a magnetic-field sensor. Magnetoresistive-based sensors, conventionally used as read heads in hard disk drives, have been used in combination with biologically functionalized magnetic labels to demonstrate the detection of molecular recognition. Real-world bio-applications are now being investigated, enabling tailored device design, based on sensor and label characteristics. This detection platform provides a robust, inexpensive sensing technique with high sensitivity and considerable scope for quantitative signal data, enabling magnetoresistive biochips to meet specific diagnostic needs that are not met by existing technologies.