A reusable capacitive immunosensor with a novel immobilization procedure based on 1,6-hexanedithiol and nano-Au self-assembled layers

A novel immobilization procedure of antibody proteins for capacitive immunosensing, based on thiolor sulfur compound (1,6-hexanedithiol, HDT) and colloid Au layers is proposed. The insulating organic monolayer film was first formed by the spontaneous assembly of HDT from solution onto gold. When these thiol-rich surfaces are exposed to Au colloid, the sulfurs form strong bonds to gold nanoparticles, anchoring the clusters to the electrode substrate. After the assembly of gold nanoparticles layer, the original formed organic thiols surface was restored, and a new nano-Au surface was obtained. Thus, the antibody could be immobilized through electrostatic adsorption between nano-Au and the antibody proteins. After use, the formed immunocomplex layer can be rinsed out, via a saline solution with extreme pH. Therefore, the immunosensor can be regenerated repeatedly, highlighting a clear advantage of this new approach with respect to classical immunoassays employing covalent immobilization.