Role of extrinsic factors on magnetoelastic resonance biosensors sensitivity

Abstract

Magnetoelastic (ME) resonance devices are attractive for application as biosensors in health-related areas as they allow contactless detection of pathogenic agents with high sensitivity. After functionalization, they offer valuable diagnostic options that promote efficient capture of mass on the sensor surface through biological interactions. ME sensors are also sensitive to external factors such as temperature, magnetic fields, and variations in mass that can arise from processes unrelated to biological interactions, including corrosion and salt crystallization. This article evaluates extrinsic factors that affect the response of ME resonance sensors for diagnostic applications. In particular, the influence of heat treatments, operation temperature, applied DC magnetic field bias, and corrosive environment were studied. The control of all these factors is crucial for the design, fabrication, and functionalization of ME resonance biosensors and for the development of measuring instrumentation and effective measurement protocols. This work established maximum operating temperature and bias field variations to keep the sensor sensitivity. Heat treatment of the sensors before and after coating improved the signal-to-noise ratio and corrosion resistance. Further improvement in corrosion resistance was provided by cathodic protection, which has been proven beneficial for applications of ME resonance sensors in aqueous fluids.