Electrochemical immunosensor using the modification of an amine-functionalized indium tin oxide electrode with carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have developed an electrochemical immunosensor that combines the electrocatalytic property of carbon nanotube and the low background current of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. A partial monolayer of carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotube (CCNT) is covalently formed on an ITO electrode modified with amine-terminated phosphonic acid. Nonspecifically adsorbed avidin on the hydrophobic sidewalls of CCNT is used to immobilize biotinylated antibody and to reduce the nonspecific binding to CCNT. The biotinylated antimouse IgG bound on avidin and the antimouse IgG conjugated with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) sandwiches a target mouse IgG. ALP catalyzes the conversion of p-aminophenyl phosphate monohydrate into p-aminophenol, which is electrocatalytically oxidized to p-quinone imine on CCNT surface. Moderate electrocatalytic electrode obtained with the combination of CCNT and ITO allows low detection limit (0.1 ng/mL).