Ratiometric electrochemical proximity assay for sensitive one-step protein detection

This work proposes the concept of ratiometric electrochemical proximity assay (REPA), which can be used for one-step, highly sensitive and selective detection of protein. The assay strategy was achieved on a sensing interface that was formed by hybridization of methylene blue (MB)-labeled antibody-DNA probe (MB-DNA1-Ab1) with ferrocene (Fc)-labeled DNA capture probe (Fc-P) modified gold electrode. On the interface the target protein could trigger the formation of immunocomplex between MB-DNA1-Ab1 and detection antibody-DNA probe (Ab2-DNA2) and subsequently the proximity hybridization of DNA1-DNA2, which led to the departure of MB-DNA1-Ab1 from the interface. The remained Fc-P could form a hairpin structure to take Fc group to electrode surface. Therefore, the recognition of target protein to Ab1 and Ab2 resulted in both the “signal-off” of MB and the “signal-on” of Fc for dual-signal electrochemical ratiometric readout. The proposed REPA could be carried out in one-step with 40-min duration and showed a wide detection range from 0.05 to 100 ng/mL with pg/mL limit of detection, displaying great potential for convenient point-of-care testing and commercial application.