The magnetic field effect on the improvement of the binding reaction of C-reactive protein at the microfluidic channel surface of an SPR biosensor

This study is dedicated to a numerical investigation of the magnetic force effect on the kinetic response of an SPR biosensor for the detection of C-reactive protein. This force is produced thanks to the use of a permanent rectangular magnet situated on the wall of the microchannel. The present work deals not only with a new geometry of a microchannel but it presents an innovative strategy based on the use of an external permanent magnetic magnet and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) dispersed in the fluid. The main objective is to improve the transport of particles in the vicinity of the sensitive membrane of a microchannel. The simulation is founded on the finite element method. The model has been validated using available literature. Then, a new geometrical configuration of the microchannel has been selected and a parametric study has been performed. The numerical results obtained successfully show the efficiency of the magnetic force and the MNPs to minimize the development of the diffusion boundary layer and subsequently improve the particles transport toward the reaction surface. A significant reduction in response time is obtained when an obstacle is involved inside the geometry and the external magnetic field is amplified by the application of two permanent magnets around the microchannel.