Biological detector and method
View Patent ↗A biological detector includes a conduit for receiving a fluid containing one or more magnetic nanoparticle-labeled, biological objects to be detected and one or more permanent magnets or electromagnet for establishing a low magnetic field in which the conduit is disposed. A microcoil is disposed proximate the conduit for energization at a frequency that permits detection by NMR spectroscopy of whether the one or more magnetically-labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid.
1. A biological detector comprising:
a conduit for receiving a fluid containing one or more magnetically-labeled, biological objects to be detected;
a magnetic field generator for establishing a magnetic field of about 0.5 to about 1.5 T in which the conduit is disposed; and
a microcoil disposed proximate the conduit for energization at a frequency that permits detection by NMR of whether the one or more magnetically-labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid.
2. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises one or more permanent magnets.
3. The biological detector of claim 2 , the biological detector comprising first and second permanent magnets having opposite poles spaced apart to form a gap in which said conduit is disposed.
4. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a capillary tube.
5. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises an open-sided microchannel.
6. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein the microcoil comprises a solenoid-shaped coil disposed about the conduit.
7. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein the microcoil has an inner diameter of about 50 to about 550 microns.
8. The biological detector of claim 7 , wherein the inner diameter is about 75 to about 125 microns.
9. The biological detector of claim 8 , wherein the inner diameter is about 100 microns.
10. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein the microcoil comprises metallic wire wound on the conduit.
11. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein the microcoil comprises a metallic layer deposited on the conduit.
12. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein the microcoil comprises a planar coil.
13. The biological detector of claim 1 , wherein a microconduit and microcoil are disposed on a ceramic chip substrate.
14. A biological detector comprising:
a conduit for receiving a fluid containing one or more magnetic nanoparticle-labeled, biological objects to be detected;
one or more permanent magnets for establishing a magnetic field in which the conduit is disposed: and
a microcoil disposed proximate the conduit for energization at a frequency that permits detection by NMR of whether the one or more magnetically-labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid.
15. The biological detector of claim 14 , wherein the microcoil has an inner diameter of about 50 to about 550 microns.
16. The biological detector of claim 15 , wherein the inner diameter is about 75 to about 125 microns.
17. The biological detector of claim 16 , wherein the inner diameter is about 100 microns.
18. The biological detector of claim 14 , wherein the one or more permanent magnets establish a magnetic field of about 0.5 to about 1.5 T.
19. A method of detecting one or more biological objects in a fluid, the method comprising:
magnetically labeling the one or more biological objects in a fluid;
disposing the fluid in a conduit that is disposed in a magnetic field of about 0.5 to about 1.5 Tesla; and
energizing a microcoil disposed proximate the conduit at a frequency that detects by NMR whether the one or more magnetically labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the one or more biological objects is/are labeled by a paramagnetic nanoparticle attached thereto.