Electrochemical detection of d-dimer as deep vein thrombosis marker using single-chain d-dimer antibody immobilized on functionalized polypyrrole

We describe a rapid and sensitive method for detection and quantification of d-dimer which is a biomarker present at elevated concentrations in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) disorders. The method uses an immunosensor based on a single-chain antibody (ScAb) immobilized on a transducer surface and with a densely packed receptor layer. Detection is based on the redox activity of a N-alpha bis(carboxymethyl)-l-lysine (ANTA)/Cu2+ complex attached to a polypyrrole backbone. The resulting hybrid material: polypyrrole ANTA/metal complex/His-tag ScAb was characterized by AFM, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) for the optimization of the biosensor formation. The biosensor offers a promising template for antibody immobilization and for immunodetection of a specific d-dimer. The biosensor shows a remarkable variation in redox activity of the ANTA/Cu2+ complex after the d-dimer association with a binding constant Kd of 1 ng mL−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) allows monitoring d-dimer association with a linear response between 0.1 ng mL−1 and 500 ng mL−1 and a detection limit of 100 pg mL−1 in PBS is obtained. The biolayer exhibits the same sensitivity for the detection of d-dimer in human patient plasma samples. This assay method is versatile, offers enhanced performance for the evaluation of proteins association and could easily be extended to the detection of other proteins, present in serum human sample.