Nanodevices

The nanodevices group develops integrated sensor solutions for the biomedical, food and environment areas, as well as industrial sensing applications. In the biomedical sensor area, magnetoresistive based protein or DNA chips, and magnetoresistive cytometers (technologies previously developed at INESC MN-Lisbon), are now being tested in different clinical applications. The bioanalyte is labelled with a magnetic nanoparticle or bead, through an intervenient antibody, aptamer, complementary DNA strand, and after recognition, the signal is read in the magnetoresistive sensor array. Label-free technologies are also being developed, using direct molecular fingerprinting of compounds and molecules using microfluidics, an optical detection, starting with discrete assembly of pre-existent modules (microfluidic reactor, light source, optical spectrometer) to the full integration of components at the wafer level in collaboration with partners. The group (together with the spintronics group) is actively involved on the prototyping of tunnel magnetoresistive based sensors for industrial applications.

Research lines:

• Magnetic tunnel junction sensor pilot line
• Biosensors (magnetoresistive and others) 
• Novel sensing platforms