An Enzyme-Free Sandwich Amperometry-Type Immunosensor Based on Au/Pt Nanoparticle-Functionalized Graphene for the Rapid Detection of Avian Influenza Virus H9 Subtype

Abstract

Abstract Avian influenza virus H9 subtype (AIV H9) has contributed to enormous economic losses. Effective diagnosis is key to controlling the spread of AIV H9. In this study, a nonenzymatic highly electrocatalytic material was prepared using chitosan (Chi)-modified graphene sheet (GS)-functionalized Au/Pt nanoparticles (GS-Chi-Au/Pt), followed by the construction of a novel enzyme-free sandwich electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of AIV H9 using GS-Chi-Au/Pt and graphene–chitosan (GS-Chi) nanocomposites as a nonenzymatic highly electrocatalytic material and a substrate material to immobilize capture antibodies (avian influenza virus H9-monoclonal antibody, AIV H9/MAb), respectively. GS, which has a large specific surface area and many accessible active sites, permitted multiple Au/Pt nanoparticles to be attached to its surface, resulting in substantially improved conductivity and catalytic ability. Au/Pt nanoparticles can provide modified active sites for avian influenza virus H9-polyclonal antibody (AIV H9/PAb) immobilization as signal labels. Upon establishing the electrocatalytic activity of Au/Pt nanoparticles on graphene towards hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction for signal amplification and optimizing the experimental parameters, we developed an AIV H9 electrochemical immunosensor, which showed a wide linear range from 101.37 EID50 mL−1 to 106.37 EID50 mL−1 and a detection limit of 100.82 EID50 mL−1. This sandwich electrochemical immunosensor also exhibited high selectivity, reproducibility and stability.

Keywords

• Electrochemical immunosensor
• Au/Pt nanoparticles
• Electrocatalysis
• Avian influenza virus H9 subtype