A sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of the heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP), an earlier biomarker for acute myocardial infarction than Troponins, is described. The sensing platform was enhanced with methylene blue (MB) redox coupled to carbon nanotubes (CNT) assembled on a polymer film of polythionine (PTh). For this strategy, monomers of thionine rich in amine groups were electrosynthesized by cyclic voltammetry on the immunosensor's gold surface, forming an electroactive film with excellent electron transfer capacity. Stepwise sensor surface preparation was electrochemically characterized at each step and scanning electronic microscopy was carried out showing all the preparation steps. The assembled sensor platform combines MB and PTh in a synergism, allowing sensitive detection of the H-FABP in a linear response from 3.0 to 25.0 ng∙mL-1 with a limit of detection of 1.47 ng∙mL-1 HFABP that is similar to the clinical level range for diagnostics. H-FABP is a newer powerful biomarker for distinguishing between unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction.
Keywords: H-FABP; acute myocardial infarction; immunosensor; methylene blue; polythionine.