One of our applications is a portable magnetoresistive cytometry platform for in-flow cell counting (e.g. bacteria) labelled with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), from various sample types with complex matrices.
Cells are labelled with tens of MNPs that were previously functionalized, making this a customizable tool for different analyte detection whenever specific recognition ligand is available.
The microfluidic module can be designed for multiple parallel channels with optimized cross-sections and heights in the micrometer range, bringing cells close to the sensors and optimizing the signal-to-noise ration.
MR sensors (e.g. spin valves) act as linear magnetic field transducers by changing their resistance whenever exposed to the magnetic field of MNPs. Biochips can incorporate tens of MR sensors with optimized designs and resolutions in the micrometer range, for sensitivities capable of single cell counting.
Applications: biomedical, environmental, food and agriculture, biodefense, and bioengineering fields.
Main Features:
– Magnetic sensing
– Sensitivity range: 103 CFU/mL
– Time to results: 20 min
– Sample volume: 100 µl
– Our microfluidic chips have excellent features for simple, low-cost, and high-sensitivity biomarker detection;
– Precise and complex microfluidic devices are highly portable, enabling timely measurement;
– Low volumes of reagent consumption and fast analysis capacities;
In collaboration with:
Suggested reading:
Ana R. Soares, R. Afonso, V.C. Martins, C. Palos, P. Pereira, Diogo M. Caetano, Davide Carta, S. Cardoso, On-site magnetic screening tool for rapid detection of hospital bacterial infections: Clinical study with Klebsiella pneumoniae cells, Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X, Vol. 11, 2022, 100149.
