Background noise and intensive sample preparation frequently compromise the field screening of Bacillus anthracis. Addressing these analytical bottlenecks, we constructed a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) biosensor incorporating geometrically tailored trapezoidal magnetic flux concentrators (MFCs). 3D finite element magnetic simulations directed the MFC topology to mitigate edge saturation, reconciling central magnetic gain with spatial uniformity. The resulting platform demonstrated a 100-fold sensitivity improvement over recent electrochemical methods, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 CFU/mL in standard buffers, with the entire testing process completed within 40 min. Direct target quantification remained viable in heterogeneous matrices—muddy water, whole milk, and apple cider—circumventing tedious pretreatment. This geometric and magnetic optimization yields a pragmatic sensing architecture tailored for on-site biodefense monitoring.
Zhao et al. (Wed,) studied this question.