Eur. Phys. J. B (2013) 86: 261
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2013-30676-4

Regular Article

Optimization of the bio-functionalized area of magnetic biosensors^*

¹ L-NESS and CNISM, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy
² Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR, Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milan, Italy

^a e-mail: edoardo.albisetti@mail.polimi.it

Received: 24 July 2012
Received in final form: 4 March 2013
Published online: 10 June 2013

Abstract

In this work, calculations and preliminary experimental data for determining the optimal condition for the selective bio-functionalization of magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ)-based biosensors are presented. Results on the detection of biomolecular recognition events employing MTJ-based sensor and magnetic beads are presented and interpreted through calculations, taking into account the dependence of the signal on the distribution of the beads with respect to the sensor. Furthermore, it is demonstrated by calculations that a significant increase in the sensor sensitivity and quantification capability can be achieved by selectively bio-functionalizing an area which corresponds to the sensor active area.