A self-powered electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of 17β-estradiol based on carbon nanocages/gold nanoparticles and DNA bioconjugate mediated biofuel cells

Abstract

17β-Estradiol (E2) is an important endogenous estrogen, which disturbs the endocrine system and poses a threat to human health because of its accumulation in the human body. Herein, a biofuel cell (BFC)-based self-powered electrochemical aptasensor was developed for E2 detection. Porous carbon nanocage/gold nanoparticle composite modified indium tin oxide (CNC/AuNP/ITO) and glucose oxidase modified CNC/AuNP/ITO were used as the biocathode and bioanode of BFCs, respectively. [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ was selected as an electroactive probe, which was entrapped in the pores of positively charged magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (PMNPs) and then capped with a negatively charged E2 aptamer to form a DNA bioconjugate. The presence of the target E2 triggered the entrapped [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ probe release due to the removal of the aptamer via specific recognition, which resulted in the transfer of electrons produced by glucose oxidation at the bioanode to the biocathode and produced a high open-circuit voltage (E^OCV). Consequently, a “signal-on” homogeneous self-powered aptasensor for E2 assay was realized. Promisingly, the BFC-based self-powered aptasensor has particularly high sensitivity for E2 detection in the concentration range of 0.5 pg mL⁻¹ to 15 ng mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.16 pg mL⁻¹ (S/N = 3). Therefore, the proposed BFC-based self-powered electrochemical aptasensor has great promise to be applied as a successful prototype of a portable and on-site bioassay in the field of environment monitoring and food safety.