Inkjet-printed gold nanoparticle electrochemical arrays on plastic. Application to immunodetection of a cancer biomarker protein

Abstract

Electrochemical detection combined with nanostructured sensor surfaces offers potentially low-cost, high-throughput solutions for detection of clinically significant proteins. Inkjet printing offers an inexpensive non-contact fabrication method for microelectronics that is easily adapted for incorporating into protein immunosensor devices. Herein we report the first direct fabrication of inkjet-printed gold nanoparticle arrays, and apply them to electrochemical detection of the cancer biomarker interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum. The gold nanoparticle ink was printed on a flexible, heat resistant polyimide Kapton substrate and subsequently sintered to create eight-electrode arrays costing −1 in calf serum, sensitivity of 11.4 nA pg⁻¹ cm⁻², and a linear dynamic range of 20–400 pg mL⁻¹.