Antibody immobilization on a nanoporous aluminum surface for immunosensor development

A method of antibody (Ab) immobilization on a nanoporous aluminum surface for an electrochemical immunosensor is presented. To achieve good attachment and stability of Ab on an aluminum surface, aluminum was silanized with 3-aminopropyltryethoxysilane (APTES), and then covalently cross-linked to self-assembled layers (SALs) of APTES. Both the APTES concentration and the silanization time affected the formation of APTES-SALs as Ab immobilization. The formation of APTES-SALs was confirmed using the water contact angle on the APTES-SALs surface. The reactivity of APTES-SALs with Ab was investigated by measuring the fluorescence intensity of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Ab-immobilized on the aluminum surface. Silanization of aluminum in 2% APTES for 4 h resulted in higher water contact angles and greater amounts of immobilized Ab than other APTES concentrations or silanization times. More Ab was immobilized on the nanoporous surface than on a planar aluminum surface. Electrochemical immunosensors developed on the nanoporous aluminum via the Ab immobilization method established in this study responded functionally to the antigen concentration in the diagnostic solution.