A label-free electrochemical aptasensor based on leaf-like vanadium disulfide-Au nanoparticles for the sensitive and selective detection of platelet-derived growth factor BB

In this work, an electrochemical aptasensor for the sensitive detection of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) is fabricated based on leaf-like VS 2 nanosheets which are prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. The scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images demonstrate that the as-prepared VS 2 is constructed with many irregular sheets in a leaf-like structure with a thickness of several nanometers. The electrochemical aptasensor is constructed by depositing Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the VS 2 nanosheet modified glassy carbon electrode and then immobilizing the aptamer. Using the AuNP/VS 2 composite as the sensing platform greatly enhances the effective surface area of the electrode and thus amplifying the detection response. The proposed aptasensor can sensitively detect PDGF-BB with a low detection limit of 0.4 pM and over a wide target concentration range of 0.001 nM to 1.0 nM. The aptasensor has been successfully applied in the determination of PDGF-BB in human urine samples and the results compared well with those by the reference ELISA method, indicating its promise in biochemical analysis. In this work, an electrochemical aptasensor for the sensitive detection of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) is fabricated based on leaf-like VS 2 nanosheets which are prepared by a facile hydrothermal method.