Magnetic particle-based ultrasensitive biosensors for diagnostics

Abstract

The process of sensitive and accurate detection of small quantities of disease biomarkers is critical for the clinical diagnosis of disease. In this regard, magnetic particles (MPs) have been widely used because of their unique magnetic properties allowing for efficient target capture, enrichment and convenient separation. These properties, coupled with great signal amplification, have enabled MP-based biosensors to achieve ultrasensitivities. Over the past few years, several ultrasensitive MP-based biosensors suitable for early clinical diagnostics have been reported. This article highlights some of the most recent developments, with a focus on MP-based ultrasensitive assays that use an antibody or aptamer as the target-binding agent, and that utilize efficient signal amplification/readout strategies.

Keywords::

• antibody
• aptamer
• biosensing
• diagnostics
• electrochemical assay
• enzyme
• immunoassay
• magnetic particle
• magnetosensor

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors thank the Leeds Biomedical Health Research Centre and the University of Leeds for funding. Y Zhang is jointly supported by a postgraduate scholarship from the China Scholarship Council and the University of Leeds. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.