A Bifunctional Nanosilver-Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for Label-Free Electrochemical Immunosensing

A bi-functional material based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite for both electrode modification and signal generation is successfully synthesized for use in the construction of a label-free electrochemical immunosensor. An AgNPs/rGO nanocomposite is prepared by a one-pot wet chemical process. The AgNPs/rGO composite dispersion is simply cast on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) to fabricate the electrochemical immunosensor. It possesses a sufficient conductivity/electroreactivity and improves the electrode reactivity of SPCE. Moreover, the material can generate an analytical response due to the formation of immunocomplexes for detection of human immunoglobulin G (IgG), a model biomarker. Based on electrochemical stripping of AgNPs, the material reveals signal amplification without external redox molecules/probes. Under optimized conditions, the square wave voltammetric peak current is responded to the logarithm of IgG concentration in two wide linear ranges from 1 to 50 pg.ml(-1) and 0.05 to 50 ng.ml(-1), and the limit of detection (LOD) is estimated to be 0.86 pg.ml(-1). The proposed immunosensor displays satisfactory sensitivity and selectivity. Importantly, detection of IgG in human serum using the immunosensor shows satisfactory accuracy, suggesting that the immunosensor possesses a huge potential for further development in clinical diagnosis.

Automated summary

A bi-functional material based on silver nanoparticles-reduced graphene oxide composite was successfully synthesized for the construction of a label-free electrochemical immunosensor. The material showed good conductivity/electroreactivity and could generate an analytical response for the detection of human immunoglobulin G. Detection of IgG in human serum using the immunosensor displayed satisfactory accuracy and the potential for further development in clinical diagnosis.