Label-Free Electrochemical Sensing Using Glassy Carbon Electrodes Modified with Multiwalled-Carbon Nanotubes Non-Covalently Functionalized with Human Immunoglobulin G

Abstract

This work reports new analytical applications of glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) modified with a nanohybrid obtained by non-covalent functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with human immunoglobulin G (IgG) (GCE/MWCNT-IgG). We report the label-free and non-amplified breast cancer 1 gen (BRCA1) biosensing based on the facilitated adsorption of the DNA probe at the nanohybrid modified GCE and the impedimetric detection of the hybridization event in the presence of the redox marker benzoquinone/hydroquinone. The resulting genosensor made the fast, highly selective, and sensitive quantification of BRCA1 gene possible, with a linear range between 1.0 fM and 10.0 nM, a sensitivity of (3.0 ± 0.1) × 102 Ω M−1 (R2 = 0.9990), a detection limit of 0.3 fM, and excellent discrimination of fully non-complementary and mismatch DNA sequences. The detection of BRCA1 in enriched samples of diluted human blood serum showed a recovery percentage of 94.6%. Another interesting analytical application of MWCNT-IgG-modified GCE based on the catalytic activity of the exfoliated MWCNTs is also reported for the simultaneous quantification of dopamine and uric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid, with detection limits at submicromolar levels for both compounds.

Keywords

• BRCA1 gene
• impedimetric biosensor
• biomarker
• carbon nanotubes
• human immunoglobulin G
• breast cancer