Multiwall carbon nanotube-ionic liquid electrode modified with gold nanoparticles as a base for preparation of a novel impedimetric immunosensor for low level detection of human serum albumin in biological fluids

•Design of a novel impedimetric immunosensor for detection of HSA in biological fluids.•Use of a multiwall carbon nanotube-ionic liquid electrode (MW-CILE) modified with AuNPs as a base.•Immobilization of activated anti-HAS on AuNPs/MW-CILE using 1,6-hexanedithiol as a cross linker.•Achieving linear dynamic range and limit of detection of 0.1–100 μg mL−1 and 15.4 ng mL−1, respectively.•Method development and validation for selective assay of HSA in biological fluids.

A highly sensitive ionic liquid-multiwall carbon nanotube based impedimetric immunosensor modified with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) was developed for the determination of human serum albumin (HSA). The antigen and antibody models used were HSA and activated anti-HSA, respectively. GNPs were electrodeposited on the multiwall based carbon ionic liquid electrode (MW-CILE) surface and then colloidal GNPs were coated through the thiol groups of 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT) monolayer as a cross linker. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed for characterization of the various layers coated onto the electrode. The electron transfer resistance (Ret) of the antibody-modified electrode changed linearly with the concentration of HSA. The linear range and limit of detection were 0.1–100 μg mL−1 and 15.4 ng mL−1, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the immunosensor were validated using human urine and human serum samples. The results showed that the prepared immunosensor is a useful tool for screening trace amounts of HSA in the biological fluids of proteinuria and diabetics patients, in clinical laboratories.

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