Magnetic susceptibility reduction method for magnetically labeled immunoassay

In addition to synthesizing biofunctionalized magnetic nanopaticles for the purpose of magnetically labeling biomolecules, a system to measure the ac magnetic susceptibility of the labeled sample was developed. When a targeted biomolecule was mixed with magnetic fluid possessing biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles, portions of magnetic nanoparticles agglomerated to form clusters due to the association with the targeted biomolecule. Due to the formation of magnetic clusters, the measured ac magnetic susceptibility reduced. The relationship between the mixed-frequency ac magnetic susceptibility reduction and the amount of the detected biomolecule was established. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.