Fabrication of AuNPs/MWCNTS/chitosan nanocomposite for the electrochemical aptasensing of cadmium in water

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd2+) is one of the most toxic heavy metals causing serious health problems; thus, designing accurate analytical methods for monitoring such pollutants is highly urgent. Herein, we report a label‐free electrochemical aptasensor for cadmium detection in water. For this, a nanocomposite combining the advantages of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and chitosan (Cs) was constructed and used as immobilization support for the cadmium aptamer. First, the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with CNTs‐CS. Then, AuNPs were deposited on CNTs‐CS/GCE using chrono‐amperometry. Finally, the immobilization of the amino‐modified Cd‐aptamer was achieved via glutaraldehyde cross‐linking. The different synthesis steps of the AuNPs/CNTs/CS nano assembly were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed for cadmium determination. The proposed biosensor exhibited excellent performances for cadmium detection at a low applied potential (−0.5 V) with a high sensitivity (1.2 KΩ.M−1), a detection limit of 0.02 pM and a wide linear range (10−13–10−4 M). Moreover, the aptasensor showed a good selectivity against the interfering ions: Pb2+; Hg2+ and Zn2+. Our electrochemical biosensor provides a simple and sensitive approach for Cd2+ detection in aqueous solutions, with promising applications in the monitoring of trace amounts of heavy metals in real samples.