An electronic channel switching-based aptasensor for ultrasensitive protein detection

Due to the ubiquity and essential of the proteins in all living organisms, the identification and quantification of disease-specific proteins are particularly important. Because the conformational change of aptamer upon its target or probe/target/probe sandwich often is the primary prerequisite for the design of an electrochemical aptameric assay system, it is extremely difficult to construct the electrochemical aptasensor for protein assay because the corresponding aptamers cannot often meet the requirement. To circumvent the obstacles mentioned, an electronic channel switching-based (ECS) aptasensor for ultrasensitive protein detection is developed. The essential achievement made is that an innovative sensing concept is proposed: the hairpin structure of aptamer is designed to pull electroactive species toward electrode surface and makes the surface-immobilized IgE serve as a barrier that separates enzyme from its substrate. It seemingly ensures that the ECS aptasensor exhibits most excellent assay features, such as, a detection limit of 4.44 × 10−6 μg mL−1 (22.7 fM, 220 zmol in 10-μL sample) (demonstrating a 5 orders of magnitude improvement in detection sensitivity compared with classical electronic aptasensors) and dynamic response range from 4.44 × 10−6 to 4.44 × 10−1 μg mL−1. We believe that the described sensing concept here might open a new avenue for the detection of proteins and other biomacromolecules.

Graphical abstract.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Target IgE is successfully designed to serve as a barrier to separate enzyme from its substrate. ► This sensing platform of electronic channel switching-based aptasensor can be simply manipulated. ► The stable hairpin structure of anti-IgE aptamer is utilized to detect target IgE. ► The sensor is ultrasensitive sensitivity, excellent selectivity and small volume of sample. ► It is a powerful platform to be further expanded to detect more kinds of proteins and even cells.