Multifunctional Sensing and Actuation Miniaturized System for Blood Biomarkers on a Bead

Multifunctional miniaturized systems with sensing and actuation properties are able to mimic conventional laboratory operations. A novel biosystem is demonstrated by the incorporation of ferromagnetic iron microparticles to a TiO
2
nanotubes/alginate hydrogel in the form of a bead, under an applied magnetic field without contaminating the sensor scaffold color by the magnetic particles. The introduced bead shows both, magnetic translocation and bio-sensing properties in the same bead. The surface of the bead prevents the biofouling of red-blood-cells, keeping the sensor surface clean for direct colorimetric analysis of blood biomarkers. Therefore, the multiple functionalities of actuation, biofouling and sensing, position this technology as a truly miniaturized system.