Green-synthesized MnFe₂O₄ Nanoparticles for TMR Biosensing Using Analog Signals, Arduino Uno, and I2C Communication Protocol
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 3 (September 2026) pp. 149-164
Abstract
The tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR)-based biosensing platform was developed and evaluated using MnFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles synthesized through both a conventional co-precipitation route and a green synthesis approach employing Cucurbita moschata leaf extract. The sensing system incorporated a commercial TMR2905 sensor coupled with differential operational amplifier to enhance the sensor output voltage. The amplified analog signal was changed into high-resolution digital signal by 16-bit ADS1115 AD converter, while an Arduino Uno microcontroller acquired digital data through I2C interface and transmitted the sensing response to a computer for real-time monitoring. Magnetic characterization confirmed the soft-ferromagnetic nature of the synthesized nanoparticles, exhibiting saturation magnetization of 61.50 emu/g for conventionally synthesized (CS)-MnFe₂O₄, 66.80 emu/g for green synthesized (GS)-MnFe₂O₄ (1:9), and 34.20 emu/g for GS-MnFe₂O₄ (2:8). Variations in magnetic behavior directly influenced the sensing characteristics of the developed biosensor. The proposed TMR platform achieved a rapid response time of 30 s and delivered sensitivity of 4.90, 4.20, and 4.00 mV/(mg/mL), with corresponding detection limits of 1.20, 1.05, and 1.30 mg/mL for CS-MnFe₂O₄, GS-MnFe₂O₄ (1:9), and GS-MnFe₂O₄ (2:8), respectively. Among the investigated formulations, the green synthesized MnFe₂O₄ (1:9) sample exhibited the highest sensing efficiency owing to its superior magnetic performance, whereas the GS-MnFe₂O₄ (2:8) formulation offered an attractive compromise between sensing capability and environmentally sustainable synthesis. The developed TMR sensing platform integrated with green-derived MnFe₂O₄ magnetic nanolabels demonstrates considerable potential for rapid, highly sensitive, and sustainable biosensing applications.
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