Development of carbon−graphene-based aptamer biosensor for EN2 protein detection

In this study, we developed a screen-printed carbon−graphene-based electrochemical biosensor for EN2 protein detection. The engrailed-2 (EN2) protein, a biomarker for prostate cancer, is known to be a strong binder to a specific DNA sequence (5′-TAATTA-3′) to regulate transcription. To take advantage of this intrinsic property, aptamer probes with TAATTA sequence was immobilized onto the screen-printed carbon−graphene electrode surface via EDC−NHS coupling approach. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of the electrochemical measurement technique was employed for the quantitative detection of EN2 protein. The hindrance to the redox reaction of potassium ferricyanide on the biosensor surface due to the binding of the immobilized aptamer with its target EN2 protein quantified the protein concentration. Under optimum conditions, the aptamer biosensor can detect EN2 protein over a linear range from 35 to 185 nM with a detection limit of 38.5 nM.