Electrochemical Immunosensing Strategies Based on Immobilization of Anti-IgC on Mixed Self-Assembly Monolayers Carrying Surface Amide or Carboxyl Groups

Abstract

In the development of electrochemical immunosensing strategies, stability or activity of the immobilized biocomponents and signal amplification of the immunoconjugates are two key factors. In this study, a comparative study of immunoglobulin G antibody (anti‐IgG) immobilization, as a model, was performed on cysteine (Cys), 2‐aminoethane thiol (AET), and 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) monolayers. The change of anti‐IgG layer formation on the three base layers as a function of the anti‐IgG concentration was investigated in parallel via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, surface plasmon resonance, and quartz crystal microbalance. Through the parallel measurements, we demonstrate that the Cys‐modified layer is more suitable for the immobilization of the anti‐IgG molecules than the MUA or AET‐modified layer. Based on the CV and EIS analyses, it was determined that the current responses decreased with the increment of anti‐IgG concentration, while the resistance responses increased with the concentration of anti‐IgG increased. Moreover, the current and resistance shifts were more remarkable on the Cys layer than that of the other two layers. In the SPR and QCM measurements, the SPR and QCM response signals were similar in shape but differing in time scales, reflecting differences in detection mechanisms. With regard to the fundamental problem of comparing different measurement principles, the mechanism of the IgG immobilized on the three layers was proposed. Consequently, the surface concentration of anti‐IgG immobilized on the electrode should be optimized to improve the sensitivity of the immunosensors.

Keywords:

• Cyclic voltammetry
• electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
• immunoglobulin G
• quartz crystal microbalance
• surface plasmon resonance

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the NNSF of China (29705001), the Chinese Education Ministry Foundation for Excellent Young Teachers (No. 2002‐40), and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing City (No. 20027477), China.