The Application of a Resonant Coil Magnetometer for Point of Care Diagnostic Applications

About the Speaker
Richard Luxton first studied clinical chemistry in the National Health Service for thirteen years at the Bristol Royal Infirmary before moving to the Institute of Neurology in London. At the University of the West of England he has focused his research in the area of developing new rapid detection technologies for point of care diagnostics, environmental analysis, food safety and homeland defence applications. Working with colleagues across the University, Richard launched the Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology, which seeks to develop new collaborations between industry and academia through inter-disciplinary research. In 2012 Richard along with Professor Janice Kiely, launched a European funded Business Technology Centre to develop cell monitoring technology.Abstract
This talk will detail the development of a rapid detection technology for point of care applications using magnetic detection of magnetic material. In this system paramagnetic particles are coated with an antibody directed against the target molecule in the sample. A second antibody to the target is immobilised on a sensor surface, sitting above a resonant coil. Sample is mixed with the antibody coated paramagnetic particles and added to a reaction chamber containing the sensor surface. The target antigen is captured on the particle surface and then acts to cross-link the paramagnetic particles to the sensor surface via the immobilised antibody on the sensor surface. The binding to the surface is accelerated through the application of an external magnetic field that attracts the paramagnetic particles to the sensor surface. The resonant coil detects the captured paramagnetic particles on the sensor surface through a change in inductance of the coil which in turn causes a drop in the resonant frequency. This system enables a rapid assay to be developed that give results in 4 to 5 minutes. This talk will discuss the operating principle of the assay and give examples of assays developed.