Abstract

Micromagnetic trap comprising a holder and a sample cell on said holder; means for providing a controllable homogeneous magnetic field sorrounding the sample cell; a modified micro-cantilever comprising a cantilever having dimensions in the micron range and at least three paramagnetic microbeads with a diameter from 1 to 3 microns attached to a bendable tip of the micro-cantilever such that they form a triangular arrangement; means for measuring the deflection of the micro-cantilever when the latter is in use. The trap does not require a specific surface functionalization in order to ensure an appropiate and selective linkage to a particular molecule