Label-free electrochemical aptasensing platform based on mesoporous silica thin film for the detection of prostate specific antigen

[Display omitted] •An aptamer-modified mesoporous electrode was assembled.•A label-free electrochemical approach for PSA detection was reported.•Aptasensor perform within clinical range to allow diagnostic application. We report the development of a novel label-free electrochemical aptasensing platform to detect prostate specific antigen (PSA) based on mesoporous silica thin film-coated gold electrodes as a sensing interface. The aptasensing approach relies on hindering the diffusion of [Fe(CN)6]3/4− redox probe through the nanochannels of the mesoporous film gated by the recognition of the target biomarker by its anti-PSA specific DNA aptamer covalently attachment onto the outer surface of the silica nanopores. The aptasensing platform was found to be very sensitive to PSA in the range from 1 to 300ngmL−1 with a detection limit of 280pgmL−1. The aptasensor also showed high specificity, reproducibility and storage stability, and was successfully validated in spiked artificial urine samples and in blood serum from a prostate cancer-free male patient.