Graphene-promoted 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid nanocomposite as redox probe in label-free electrochemical aptasensor

Graphene/3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid (GPD) with three-dimensional porous structure has been successfully synthesized and served as redox probe to construct ultrasensitive electrochemical aptasensor. The GPD nanocomposite shows promoted electrochemical redox-activity of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid (PTCA) with an obvious well-defined cathodic peak from −0.7 to 0 V that never been seen from graphene or PTCA, which avoids miscellaneous redox peaks of PTCA in electrochemical characterization, offering a novel redox probe for electrochemical sensors with highly electrochemical active area and conductivity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that utilizes PTCA self-derived redox-activity as redox probe in electrochemical sensors. Moreover, the interesting GPD possesses the advantages of membrane-forming property, providing a direct immobilization of redox probes on electrode surface. This simple process not only diminishes the conventional fussy immobilization of redox probes on the electrode surface, but also reduces the participation of the membrane materials that acted as a barrier of the electron propagation in redox probe immobilization. With thrombin as a model target, the redox probe-GPD based label-free electrochemical aptasensor shows a much higher sensitivity (a detection range from 0.001 nM to 40 nM with a detection limit of 200 fM) to that of analogous aptasensors produced from other redox probes.

► In the present study, we propose a graphene promoted 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid nanocomposite (GPD) for fabricating label-free electrochemical aptasensor.
► The GPD nanocomposite shows an obvious well-defined cathodic peak that never been seen from graphene or PTCA.
► The interesting GPD providing a direct immobilization of redox probes on electrode surface.
► This simple process not only diminishes the conventional fussy immobilization of redox probes, but also reduces the participation of the membrane materials that acted as a barrier of the electron propagation in redox probes immobilization.