Magnetoresistive sensors for biological applications

My research focuses on developing technologies for the detection of single segment and multi-segment magnetic nanowires using GMR and TMR magnetic sensors integrated into a microfluidic channel with the aim to develop a portable and cost-effective flow cytometry platform for applications such as early detection of cancer cells.

Detectable multi-segment nanowires could act as the magnetic ‘barcodes’ to molecular biomarkers.

Detectable multi-segment nanowires could act as the magnetic ‘barcodes’ to molecular biomarkers.

 

Detectable multi-segment nanowires could act as the magnetic ‘barcodes’ to molecular biomarkers.

The magnetic nanowire detection system developed was a fully integrated detection system

Signal detection experiments were carried out with two GMR sensors configured as a lateral gradiometer, which enabled us to detect single segment nanowires as they passed over the sensor.

 

Snapshot of nanowires

Physics, Trinity College Dublin

Response of CoNi nanowires dispensed across sensor

Response of CoNi nanowires dispensed across sensor

 

Expected detected response is low 10’s of T with a response time of 0.5 ms

Expected detected response is low 10’s of T with a response time of 0.5 ms

EU FP7 grant ID: 246479 NAMDIATREAM