In this paper, we reported a novel label-free electrochemical aptasensors for thrombin detection in whole blood using self-assembled multilayers with carboxymethyl-PEG-carboxymethyl (CM-PEG-CM) and thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA). In the sensing strategy, CM-PEG-CM and TBA were assembled on the electrode surface via covalent binding. In the presence of target, the TBA on the outermost layer of the self-assembled multilayer would catch the target on the electrode interface, which makes a barrier for electrons and inhibits the electro-transfer, resulting in the decreased DPV signals. Using this strategy, a wide detection range (1 pM-160 nM) for target thrombin was obtained, with a low detection limit of 1.56 x 10(-14) M. The control experiments were also carried out by using bull serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme in the absence of thrombin. The results showed that the aptasensors had good specificity, stability and reproducibility to thrombin. Moreover, the aptasensors could be used for detection of thrombin in whole blood which could provide a promising platform for fabrication of aptamer based biosensors in clinical application. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.