Multiferroic nanoparticle-laden composite hydrogel as a dual-mode biosensor

Abstract

Despite the advances in biosensor technology, it is still a significant challenge to improve the precision and sensitivity of biomolecular detection in a cost-effective and high-throughput manner. In this study, nanocomposite poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel laden with single-phase perovskite multiferroic nanoparticles (MFP) based on lead iron niobate is developed. This MFP-PEG hydrogel demonstrates highly sensitive magnetielectric properties. Upon binding with a protein via conjugated antibody, the MFP-PEG hydrogel undergoes highly sensitive and consistent changes in both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic polarizations commensurate with the amount of protein, with the limit of detection in the femtomolar range. Therefore, the MFP-PEG hydrogel is a versatile nanocomposite platform that allows highly sensitive and accurate detection of biological molecules via tunable ME properties.