title: A biosensor based on magnetoresistance technology.
abstract: We are developing a biosensor that will measure, at the level of single molecules, the forces that bind DNA-DNA, antibody-antigen, or ligand-receptor pairs together. The Bead Array Counter (BARC) will use these interaction forces to hold magnetic microbeads to a solid substrate. Microfabricated magnetoresistive transducers on the substrate will indicate whether or not the beads are removed when pulled by magnetic forces. By adapting magnetoresistive computer memory technology, it may be possible to fabricate millions of transducers on a chip and detect or screen thousands of analytes. The multi-analyte capability of this portable sensor would be ideal for on-site testing, while the potential to directly gauge intermolecular interaction strengths suggests drug discovery applications.
authors.affiliation: Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC 20375-5342, USA. dbaselt@stm2.nrl.navy.mil
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Baselt
authors.forename: G U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Natesan
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Colton
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008280:Magnetics
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances