Electrochemical detection of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) using VEGF antibody fragments modified Au NPs/ITO electrode

A new electrochemical technique for the detection of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) as a cancer-related biomarker is presented in this paper. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) were self-assembled onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode to prepare a modified sandwich type electrochemical immunoassay platform. VEGF antibodies were cleaved into two half-fragments by 2-mercaptoethylamine–HCl (2-MEA) and the fragments were immobilized onto the Au NP substrates by their thiol groups. Through this strategy, randomly oriented attachment of antibodies was prevented which frequently occurs in a general use of whole antibody and reduces the number of available sites for the attachment of target molecules. VEGF target molecules were applied to the immunoelectrodes and they combined with the antibody fragments covering the Au NP electrode, forming antigen–antibody complexes. Then, ferrocene-tagged antibodies, which release electrons under a proper applied potential, were added to the system and they combined with the VEGF molecules pre-attached to the antibody fragments. The redox current of ferrocene measured by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) increased almost linearly from 1.27 × 10−4 to 4.17 × 10−4 A according to the increase in the concentration of the VEGF target molecules from 100 to 600 pg/ml. The measured current values represent the concentration of the VEGF since they are proportional to the number of ferrocene molecules which is in turn proportional to the concentration of VEGF target molecules. Using this modified sandwich immunoassay with the Au NP/ITO electrode, VEGFs as low as 100 pg/ml were detected with high specificity.