TiO2 nanoparticles doped with Celestine Blue as a label in a sandwich immunoassay for the hepatitis C virus core antigen using a screen printed electrode

Abstract

The authors describe an electrochemical immunoassay for the core antigen of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The method is based on the use of a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) that was modified with a Nafion@TiO2 nanocomposite and loaded with secondary antibody (Ab2) to entrap Celestine Blue (CB). The material has architecture of the type CB/Ab2/Nafion@TiO2. A nanocomposite consisting of graphene, ionic liquid and fullerene was deposited on the SPCE first, and rhodium nanoparticles (RhNPs) were then deposited on the surface of modified electrode in order to immobilize primary antibody (Ab1). The antigen and CB/Ab2/Nafion@TiO2 were conjugated one by one to form a sandwich-type immunocomplex. The signal was obtained by differential pulse voltammetry whose intensity is related to the concentration of the antigen. The assay, if operated at a working voltage of typically 0.35 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) has a response that is linear in the 0.1 to 250 pg⋅mL−1 HCV core antigen concentration range, and the limit of detection is as low as 25 fg⋅mL−1. The assay was applied to the determination of the HCV core antigen in spiked human serum samples. In our perception, the method represents a promising platform for the detection of various antigens if appropriate antibodies are available.