Sensitive immunoassay for the β-agonist ractopamine based on glassy carbon electrode modified with gold nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a film of poly-arginine

We are presenting an electrochemical immunosensor for the determination of the β-agonist and food additive ractopamine. A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with gold nanoparticles and a film of a composite made from poly(arginine) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Antibody against ractopamine was immobilized on the surface of the modified GCE which then was blocked with bovine serum albumin. The assembly of the immunosensor was followed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Results demonstrated that the semicircle diameter increases, indicating that the film formed on the surface hinders electron transfer due to formation of the antibody-antigen complex on the modified electrode. Under optimal conditions, the peak current obtained by differential pulse voltammetry decreases linearly with increasing ractopamine concentrations in the 0.1 nmol•L−1 to 1 μmol•L−1 concentration range. The lower detection limit is 0.1 nmol•L−1. The sensor displays good stability and reproducibility. The method was applied to the analysis of spiked swine feed samples and gave satisfactory results.