No abstract

A reagentless electrochemical impedance biosensor for detection of peanut protein Ara h 1, one of the allergenic proteins found in peanuts, has been demonstrated using an Au substrate onto which an antibody film has been immobilized. Following initial stabilization of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) through which the antibody is immobilized, the biosensor substrate exhibits stable impedance spectra at different stages of substrate preparation. By fitting the impedance spectra to a Randles equivalent circuit, one can demonstrate that the charge-transfer resistance (R(ct)) increases and the differential capacitance (Cd) decreases with increasing concentration of Ara h 1, although R(ct) exhibits greater sensitivity. The detection limit of this reagentless biosensor is estimated to be less than 0.3 nM. Assuming a Langmuir adsorption isotherm, the dissociation constant of the peanut protein Ara h 1 and its antibody can be calculated as 0.52 nM from the variation in differential capacitance with Ara h 1 concentration.

Due to their all-electrical nature, impedance biosensors have significant potential for use as simple and portable sensors for environmental studies and environmental monitoring. Detection of two endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC), norfluoxetine and BDE-47, is reported here by impedance biosensing, with a detection limit of 8.5 and 1.3 ng/mL for norfluoxetine and BDE-47, respectively. Although impedance biosensors have been widely studied in the academic literature, commercial applications have been hindered by several technical limitations, including possible limitations to small analytes, the complexity of impedance detection, susceptibility to nonspecific adsorption, and stability of biomolecule immobilization. Recent research into methods to overcome these obstacles is briefly reviewed. New results demonstrating antibody regeneration atop degenerate (highly doped) Si are also reported. Using 0.2 M KSCN and 10 mM HF for antibody regeneration, peanut protein Ara h 1 is detected daily during a 30 day trial.