Label-free electrochemical immunosensor for detection of tumor necrosis factor α based on fullerene-functionalized carbon nanotubes/ionic liquid

• Published in: Journal of electroanalytical chemistry (Lausanne, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2015-11, Vol.757, p.58-64
• Main Authors: Mazloum-Ardakani, Mohammad, Hosseinzadeh, Laleh, Khoshroo, Alireza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catechol; Electrochemical immunosensor; Fullerene-functionalized carbon nanotubes; Ionic liquid; Kinetic parameters; Tumor necrosis factor α
• ISSN: 1572-6657; 1873-2569
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2015.09.006

A novel and sensitive label-free electrochemical immunosensor was developed for enzyme-free determination of biomarker tumor necrosis factor α antigen (TNF-α) based on entrapping of a TNF-α-antibody onto nanocomposite containing fullerene-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide) (C60–CNTs–IL). C60–CNTs–IL was used as a desirable sensor platform and excellent electrocatalyst for oxidation of catechol as a probe in an immunosensor. Determination of TNF-α was based on its obstruction of the electrocatalytic oxidation of catechol by C60–CNTs–IL after binding to the surface of an electrode through interaction with the anti-TNF-α. The protein layers on the modified electrode generated a barrier for electron-transfer; we demonstrated the effect of immobilized protein layers and modification of the electrode on the kinetic parameters in every step of immunosensor construction. Various kinetic parameters such as electrode surface area (A), diffusion coefficient (D) and electron-transfer rate constant (ks) were also studied and calculated in the aqueous solution. Under the optimal conditions, the results demonstrated that this electrochemical immunosensor had a dynamic range of between 5.0pg/mL to 75pg/mL with a low detection limit of 2.0pg/mL for TNF-α. The fabricated immunosensor was successfully applied to the determination of TNF-α in serum samples. The obtained results showed the change of kinetic parameters due to the effect of each step of immunosensor fabrication and the fabricated immunosensor demonstrates the promising applications in protein diagnostics and bioassay. [Display omitted] •Introduction of fullerene-functionalized MWCNTs/ionic liquid nanocomposite as a desirable immunosensor platform•A novel and sensitive label-free electrochemical immunosensor for enzyme-free determination of TNF-α•The proposed immunosensor was successfully applied for the analysis of TNF-α in a serum sample.•Various kinetic parameters were studied and calculated for the proposed immunosensor.