Electrochemical aptasensor based on the dual-amplification of G-quadruplex horseradish peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme and blocking reagent-horseradish peroxidase

A simple electrochemical aptasensor for sensitive detection of thrombin was fabricated with G-quadruplex horseradish peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme (hemin/G-quadruplex system) and blocking reagent-horseradish peroxidase as dual signal-amplification scheme. Gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) were firstly electrodeposited onto single wall nanotube (SWNT)-graphene modified electrode surface for the immobilization of electrochemical probe of nickel hexacyanoferrates nanoparticles (NiHCFNPs). Subsequently, another nano-Au layer was electrodeposited for further immobilization of thrombin aptamer (TBA), which later formed hemin/G-quadruplex system with hemin. Horseradish peroxidases (HRP) then served as blocking reagent to block possible remaining active sites and avoided the non-specific adsorption. In the presence of thrombin, the TBA binded to thrombin and the hemin released from the hemin/G-quadruplex electrocatalytic structure, increasing steric hindrance of the aptasensor and decomposing hemin/G-quadruplex electrocatalytic structure, which finally decreased the electrocatalytic efficiency of aptasensor toward H2O2 in the presence of NiHCFNPs with a decreased electrochemical signal. On the basis of the synergistic amplifying action, a detection limit as low as 2 pM for thrombin was obtained.