A wireless, remote-query micro-sensor for simultaneous quantification of multiple bioagents

This paper presents a micro magnetoelastic sensor array for simultaneous quantification of multiple biological agents. Magnetoelastic sensors, which are made of low-cost amorphous ferromagnetic ribbons, track parameters of interest via changes in the resonance behavior. These sensors are highly attractive not only due to their small size and low cost but also because of their passive and wireless nature. Magnetoelastic sensors have been applied for monitoring pressure, temperature, liquid density and viscosity, and with chemical/biological responsive coatings that change mass or elasticity, various biological and chemical agents. In this paper, we report the fabrication and application of a six-sensor array for simultaneously measurement of Escherichia coli O157:H7, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, and ricin. In addition, the sensor array also monitors temperature and pH so the measurements can be made independent from these two parameters.