Simple and multilayered magnetic and non-magnetic nanowire arrays based on metals and alloys (NiFe, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Au, Pt, Ag, FeGa simple nanowires, as well as multilayer nanowires), with controlled physical properties and diameters between 20 and 400 nanometers, prepared by electrochemical deposition in alumina, Ti and Si anodized membranes or polycarbonate membranes, for fundamental and applied research (i.e. biomedical applications: single and multilayer magnetic and nonmagnetic nanowires for fluorescence-based optical detection of DNA).