Sensor

A device suitable for the detection and/or characterization of target particles in a fluid, the device comprising:

• at least one heating element for heating and/or measuring a temperature, the heating element being a wire that includes
• a core comprising at least an electrically conducting portion,
• an electric isolating layer, said electric isolating layer provided at a surface of the core and wherein said electric isolating layer electrically isolates the core from the sample, and
• a plurality of binding sites at/to which target particles can bind;
• and
• a processor that
• measures thermal resistance as an electric output of the at least one heating element and/or as a change in electric output of the at least one heating element and/or as a change in its heating power,
• derives, based on the thermal resistance as the measured electric output of the at least one heating element or the change in the electric output of the at least one heating element or the change in the heating power, a characteristic of the target particles, and
• controls the heating power of the at least one heating element by providing to the wire a controlled amount of electric current.