An integrated giant magnetoimpedance biosensor for detection of biomarker

A Dynabeads-labeled magnetic immunoassay (MIA) has been developed by using an integrated giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) biosensor for the detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The GMI biosensor (Cr/Cu/NiFe/Cu/NiFe/Al2O3/Cr/Au films) integrated magnetic sensing elements and a biomolecular immunoplatform. Au film was modified with 11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA) for the immobilization of AFP monoclonal antibody. Double antibody sandwich immunoassay was used to specifically capture and label AFP antigen. Functionalized Dynabeads were conjugated to AFP antigen by streptavidin-biotin binding assay. GMI responses were measured for sensitive detection of AFP from 1 to 10ng/ml. Our results revealed that the presence of AFP on the biosensor improved the GMI effect owing to the induced magnetic dipole of superparamagnetic Dynabeads, and the GMI ratio was greatly increased at high frequency. Specificity of MIA was tested through the use of 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA). The underlying biophysical mechanisms responsible for the enhanced GMI effect in the detection of AFP were discussed. This work provides a complex lab-on-chip MIA for the detection of biomarker, which may open up a new way for the development of GMI-based MIA in clinical trials.