Sample assembly with an electromagnetic field to accelerate the bonding of target antigens and nanoparticles

A method of forming a sample assembly of a biological sample having target antigens, the method comprising:

• providing a substrate having a surface and an embedded electrical conductor;
• bonding a first set of antibodies on the substrate surface;
• exposing the substrate surface with the first set of bonded antibodies to the biological sample having the target antigens, wherein the target antigens bond with the first set of antibodies on a bottom surface of a plurality of sample trenches, each sample trench having a substantially linear shape and being formed in an outer layer disposed on the substrate;
• forming one or more alignment trenches in the outer layer;
• bonding a second set of antibodies to nanoparticles, wherein the first and second sets of antibodies are biologically identical;
• exposing the target antigens bonded with the first set of antibodies to the second set of antibodies bonded with the nanoparticles, wherein the second set of antibodies bond with the target antigens;
• and
• applying an electric current through the electrical conductor to generate an electromagnetic field, wherein the electromagnetic field generated by applying the electric current through the electrical conductor comprises an electrical component and a magnetic component,
• wherein each alignment trench comprises non-magnetic markings configured to facilitate alignment of an electromagnetic write head of a magnetic tape drive,
• wherein the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field moves the nanoparticles toward the bottom surface of the plurality of sample trenches, and
• wherein moving the nanoparticles toward the bottom surface of the plurality of sample trenches speeds up the bonding between the second set of antibodies and the target antigens.

A method of detecting target antigens in a biological sample on a sample assembly, the sample assembly including a substrate having a surface and an electrical conductor, the method comprising:

• bonding a first set of antibodies on the substrate surface exposed via one or more sample trenches formed in an outer layer formed on the substrate surface, each sample trench having a longitudinal axis and a substantially linear shape arranged along the longitudinal axis thereof;
• exposing the substrate surface with the first set of bonded antibodies to the biological sample having the target antigens, wherein the target antigens bond with the first set of antibodies;
• bonding a second set of antibodies to nanoparticles, wherein the first and second sets of antibodies are biologically identical;
• exposing the target antigens bonded with the first set of antibodies to the second set of antibodies bonded with the nanoparticles, wherein the second set of antibodies bond with the target antigens;
• applying an electric current through the electrical conductor to generate an electromagnetic field, wherein the electromagnetic field generated by applying the electric current through the electrical conductor comprises an electrical component and a magnetic component, wherein the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field moves the nanoparticles toward the substrate surface, and wherein moving the nanoparticles toward the substrate surface speeds up the bonding between the second set of antibodies and the target antigens;
• magnetizing the nanoparticles using an electromagnetic write head;
• reading the magnetized nanoparticles using a magneto-resistive read sensor to detect the target antigens;
• and
• aligning at least one of the electromagnetic write head and the electromagnetic read sensor with at least one of the sample trenches using at least one alignment trench also formed in the outer layer, each alignment trench having a longitudinal axis and a substantially linear shape arranged along the longitudinal axis thereof.