Giant-magnetoimpedance-based sensitive element as a model for biosensors

We study the magnetoimpedance effect, using a Co67Fe4Mo1.5Si16.5B11 amorphous, ribbon-based sensitive element, in the presence of a commercial Ferrofluid(R) liquid thin layer covering the ribbon surface. The magnetoimpedance response is clearly dependent on the presence of the magnetic ferroliquid, the value of the applied magnetic field, and the parameters of the driving current. The magnetoimpedance-based prototype is proposed as a biosensor with high sensitivity to the fringe field produced by magnetic nanoparticles. A special advantage of this sensor is its high stability to chemical aggressive media; hence, it can be used for in situ measurements during fabrication of biomaterials with a high level of affinity and specificity with nanoparticles employed as bimolecular labels. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.