Electrochemical immunosensor for the determination of insulin-like growth factor-1 using electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes–poly(pyrrole propionic acid) hybrids

• The development of an amperometric immunosensor for IGF1 is reported for the first time.
• The immunosensing approach involves direct covalent binding of anti-IGF1 onto poly(pyrrole propionic acid)/MWCNTs glassy carbon electrodes.
• A range of quantifiable antigen concentrations between 0.5 and 1000 pg/mL and a limit of detection of 0.25 pg/mL were achieved.
• The immunosensor was validated by application to human serum samples.

An amperometric immunosensor for the determination of the hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is reported for the first time in this work. As electrochemical transducer, a multiwalled carbon nanotubes-modified glassy carbon electrode on which poly(pyrrole propionic acid) was electropolymerized was prepared. This approach provided a high content of surface confined carboxyl groups suitable for direct covalent binding of anti-IGF1 monoclonal antibody. A sandwich-type immunoassay using a polyclonal antibody labeled with peroxidase, hydrogen peroxide as the enzyme substrate and catechol as redox mediator was employed to monitor the affinity reaction. All the variables involved in the preparation of the modified electrode were optimized and the electrodes were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Moreover, the different experimental variables affecting the amperometric response of the immunosensor were also optimized. The calibration graph for IGF1 showed a range of linearity extending from 0.5 to 1000 pg/mL, with a detection limit, 0.25 pg/mL, more than 100 times lower than the lowest values reported for the ELISA immunoassays available for IGF1 (30 pg/mL, approximately). Excellent reproducibility for the measurements carried out with different immunosensors and selectivity against other hormones were also evidenced. A commercial human serum spiked with IGF1 at different levels between 0.01 and 10.0 ng/mL was analyzed with good results.