A carbon nanotube-enhanced real-time immuno-PCR for ultrasensitive detection of AHTN in water.

Polycyclic musks (PCMs) in the aquatic environment have become an emerging environmental issue because of their potential risk. The most commonly used method for analysis of PCMs is gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) with different sample extractions, which are somewhat expensive to operate, laborious and complex. In this paper, a carbon nanotube-enhanced real time immuno-PCR was developed for ultrasensitive detection of AHTN in water for the first time. The SWCNTs were used to immobilize numerous amino-DNA and polyclonal antibody to form polyclonal antibody-CNTs-DNA conjugates, which were used as a signal-amplifier in the proposed immunoassay system. This proposed carbon nanotube enhanced real time immuno-PCR assay was used to determine AHTN in water samples ranging from 5 pg/L-0.1 ng/L; using sample size as low as 10 μL. This proposed carbon nanotube enhanced real time immuno-PCR is the most ultrasensitive one for determination of AHTN in water without pre-concentration or extractions; and it provide a potential way for ultra-trace AHTN detection in the aquatic environment.