Lipid-Layer Immunosensing With Magnetic Tunnel Junction Readout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immunoassays, particularly sandwich ELISAs, face challenges with false positive signals due to fragile immune complexes and limitations in sensitivity and specificity, necessitating validation to mitigate these issues.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a sensor element with an anchor layer on a solid support, featuring a first binding agent anchored with a magnetic label, a second binding agent immobilized on the support, and a magnetic tunnel junction in proximity to generate a signal for detecting the analyte complex formation, enhancing specificity and sensitivity by reducing background noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sandwich ELISA is used for analyte detection, then the method is widely applicable for diagnostic purposes, but false positive signals occur due to fragile immune complexes
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into distinct functional components: magnetic labels attached to capture antibodies, sandwich complex formation, and magnetic tunnel junction detection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while reducing cross-interference that causes false positives.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic labels serve as intermediaries between the immune complex and the detection system. The magnetic tunnel junction detects the presence and position of these magnetic labels, which are bound to the capture antibody in the sandwich complex, providing a reliable signal that reduces false positives.
2Measurement precision
If conventional immunoassays are used, then they can detect analytes, but sensitivity and specificity are limited requiring validation
Solution Approach 1:
The conventional optical detection system is replaced with a magnetic detection system using magnetic tunnel junctions. This substitution provides higher sensitivity and specificity because magnetic labels offer a stronger and more specific signal that can be detected with greater precision, reducing the need for extensive validation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If magnetic labels are anchored in the anchor layer, then background noise is reduced, but the complexity of the sensor element increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic labels are pre-anchored in the anchor layer before the assay is performed. This preliminary action ensures that the magnetic labels are in their correct positions and orientations, reducing background noise by preventing non-specific binding and signal interference that would occur if labels were not properly anchored.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method improves sensitivity and specificity in analyte detection by stabilizing immune complexes and reducing noise, allowing for dynamic real-time measurements and potentially eliminating the need for washing steps, enabling detection of single molecule events.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic tunnel junction in functional proximity to the second binding agent which generates a signal elicited in proximity to the at least one magnetic label of the first binding agent
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to diagnostic test and technology. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for determining an analyte suspected to be present in a sample comprising contacting said sample with a sensor element comprising an anchor layer which is present on a solid support, a first binding agent which is capable of specifically binding to the analyte, which is anchored in the anchor layer and which comprises at least one magnetic label, wherein said at least one magnetic label is located within the anchor layer, a second binding agent which is capable of specifically binding to the analyte when bound to the first binding agent and which is immobilized on the solid support, and a magnetic tunnel junction in functional proximity to the second binding agent which generates a signal elicited in proximity to the at least one magnetic label of the first binding agent, for a time and under conditions which allow for specific binding of the analyte suspected to be present in the sample to the first binding agent and specific binding of the second binding agent to the analyte bound to the first binding agent and detecting the formation the complex of first binding agent, analyte and second binding agent based on the signal which is generated by the magnetic tunnel junction whereby the analyte is determined. Moreover, provided is a device for determining an analyte suspected to be present in a sample and the use thereof for determining an analyte suspected to be present in a sample in said sample. Moreover, the present invention contemplates a kit for determining an analyte suspected to be present in a sample.