Patent ID: 8263331

Claim:
A device for at least one of the detection and quantification of an analyte with the aid of a plurality of catcher molecules that bind specifically to the analyte, the device comprising: a basic matrix; and a plurality of magnetized nanoparticles arranged in a moveable fashion and in at least one layer within in the basic matrix, the catcher molecules that bind specifically to the analyte being anchored to the magnetized nanoparticles, wherein mobility of the magnetized nanoparticles in the basic matrix is influenceable by a binding of the analyte to be detected to the catcher molecules, a change in the mobility of the magnetized nanoparticles being magnetically readable, wherein, the plurality of magnetized nanoparticles are spatially combined to form a spot that is provided with at least two different types of the catcher molecules, different molecular regions of the analyte being crosslinked to different types of the catcher molecules, wherein the magnetized nanoparticles have an ellipsoidal form, and wherein the basic matrix is a gel matrix with a crosslinking density, each of the magnetized nanoparticles being permanently enclosed within said gel matrix such that each of the magnetized nanoparticles can be wholly or partially rotated.