Label-Free Electrochemical Immunosensor Based on a Functionalized Ionic Liquid and Helical Carbon Nanotubes for the Determination of Cardiac Troponin I

A label-free electrochemical immunosensor for cardiac troponin I was prepared by using a helical carbon nanotube-supported aldehyde-functionalized ionic liquid. Because of the good conductivity of ionic liquid and helical carbon nanotubes, high sensitivity of the immunosensor was obtained. Functionalized ionic liquid provided binding sites for antibody, which simplified the process of sensor construction. Cardiac troponin I was detected by this immunosensor with a linear range of 0.05–30 ng/mL and a detection limit of 0.03 ng/mL. The electrochemical immunosensor had satisfactory reproducibility, high sensitivity, and acceptable specificity.