A Label-Free Electrochemical Aptamer Sensor for Sensitive Detection of Cardiac Troponin I Based on AuNPs/PB/PS/GCE

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) monitoring is of great value in the clinical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this paper, a highly sensitive electrochemical aptamer sensor using polystyrene (PS) microspheres as the electrode substrate material in combination with Prussian blue (PB) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was demonstrated for the sensitive and label-free determination of cTnI. PS microspheres were synthesized by emulsion polymerization and then dropped onto the glassy carbon electrode (GCE); PB and AuNPs were electrodeposited on the electrode in corresponding electrolyte solutions step by step. The PS microsphere substrate provided a large surface area for the loading mass of the biological affinity aptamers, while the PB layer improved the electrical conductivity of the modified electrode, and the electroactive AuNPs exhibited excellent catalytic performance for the subsequent electrochemical measurements. In view of the above mentioned AuNPs/PB/PS/GCE sensing platform, the fabricated label-free electrochemical aptamer sensor exhibited a wide detection range of 10 fg/mL~1.0 μg/mL and a low detection limit of 2.03 fg/mL under the optimal conditions. Furthermore, this biosensor provided an effective detection platform for the analysis of cTnI in serum samples. The introduction of this sensitive electrochemical aptamer sensor provides a reference for clinically sensitive detection of cTnI.