A nanohybrid probe based on double recognition of an aptamer MIP grafted onto a MWCNTs-Chit nanocomposite for sensing hepatitis C virus core antigen

•The aptamer-MIP strategy for the detecting of HCV core antigen developed.•The combination of MIP with apatsensing can expanded for detecting other markers.•The high stability and simplicity of composite is another advantage of this work.•This nanotools demonstrated a linear response with Log[Anti], and LOD (1.67 fg/ml). In this research work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes-chitosan nanocomposite (MWCNTs-Chit) is utilized as a special immobilization interface to improve the conductivity and performance characteristics of the sensors to increase the loading amount of aptamer (Apt) sequence. A novel sensor for the first time was constructed for hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen (Anti) through combining the benefits aptasensing and molecular imprinting (MIP) approaches based on electropolymerization of dopamine (DA) around the Apt [HCV core antigen] complex on MWCNTs-Chit modified GCE. The sensor also can be a useful tool for detection of HCV core antigen with low response time, low cost, good sensitivity, and high stability. The analytical performance and application feasibility of the sensor was measured by several different electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetric (CV), differential pulse voltammetric (DPV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The sensor response indicates a linear range from 5.0 fg/mL to 1.0pg/mL with a detection limit of 1.67fg/mL. Moreover, the application of the proposed method to determination of HCV core antigen in human serum sample has been successfully evaluated; satisfactory results were obtained, the results show great potential of the fabricated sensor for real sample analysis.