A novel pH-controlled immunosensor using hollow mesoporous silica and apoferritin combined system for target virus assay

A novel pH-controlled immunosensor using hollow mesoporous silica and apoferritin combined system has been reported for the first time. The goal of this study was to introduce more electroactive probes into the electrochemical immunosensor. Under such background, we focused our attention on hollow mesoporous silica and apoferritin, both of which have admirable accommodating performances and can be applied for encapsulating electroactive probes. Based on the pH-controlled disassociation–reconstitution process of apoferritin and the mesoporous channels of silica, after the appropriate chemical modification, apoferritin could be fabricated with silica. The results showed that the hollow mesoporous silica and apoferritin combined system was successfully assembled. The excellent performance of the combined system can be applied for ultrasensitive detection of a target virus.