Improving the Sensitivity of Detecting Magnetically Tagged Antigens in a Microfluidic Channel with 3D Solenoid Utilizing Magnetic Pull Force

This paper aims to address public health concerns regarding viral exposure timelines and the inaccuracy medically standard lateral flow assay virus tests exhibit at incubation stages through proposition of an alternate viral detection method. Target antigens tagged to magnetic microbeads are drawn through a microfluidic solenoid (150µm diameter and 630µm length) by a neodymium magnet to induce a nanovolt scale voltage signal. COMSOL and MATLAB simulations modeling these device elements produced a signal from induced voltage. A low noise amplifier circuit simulation in LT Spice consisting of LTC 2050 op-amps were used to amplify the signal. Digital signal processing algorithms were used to further reduce noise and an output signal-to-noise ratio of 23.07 dB was achieved. This method of viral detection addresses the disadvantage lateral flow assay tests pose at the incubation stage through discrete antigen enumeration.