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Voltammetric immunoassay for α-fetoprotein by using a gold nanoparticle/dendrimer conjugate and a ferrocene derived ionic liquid

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Abstract

An immunosensor is described for the voltammetric determination of α-fetoprotein. It is making use of an AuNP-dendrimer conjugate and an ionic liquid. A gold electrode was first modified with chitosan. Then, the AuNP-dendrimer conjugate was covalently immobilized on the electrode. Following this, an ionic liquid was placed on the electrode via formation of a covalent bond between the amino groups of PAMAM and the aldehyde groups of an ionic liquid containing ferrocene. Thus, the redox probe ferrocene becomes immobilized on the electrode surface. PAMAM increases the amount of ferrocene immobilized on the electrode due to its globular shape and rich amino groups. The use of AuNPs improves the conductivity of the electrode. The modified electrode was applied to the determination of α-fetoprotein in human serum and has a linear response that covers the 0.05 to 30 ng mL−1 α-fetoprotein concentration range, with a detection limit of 0.02 ng mL−1. This assay is stable, selective and reproducible. It is perceived to provide a powerful tool for the early detection of cancer markers.

Schematic of a voltammetric immunoassay for α-fetoprotein based on a gold nanoparticle/dendrimer conjugate and ionic liquids anchored with both aldehyde and ferrocene. Chit: chitosan; GA: glutaraldehyde; PAMAM: G4 polyamidoaminic dendrimers; AuNP: Au nanoparticle; Fc: ferrocene; IL: ionic liquid. PB: phosphate buffer solution.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial supports from Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2016JJ6105) and Foundation of Hunan University of Arts and Science (17ZD03).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for The Construction & Development of Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone, College of Chemistry and Material Engineering, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde, 415000, People’s Republic of China

    Youming Shen & Guangyu Shen

  2. Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Traditional Chinese Medicine Research (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, People’s Republic of China

    Youyu Zhang

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  1. Youming Shen
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  2. Guangyu Shen
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Correspondence to Guangyu Shen or Youyu Zhang.

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Shen, Y., Shen, G. & Zhang, Y. Voltammetric immunoassay for α-fetoprotein by using a gold nanoparticle/dendrimer conjugate and a ferrocene derived ionic liquid. Microchim Acta 185, 346 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-018-2886-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-018-2886-3

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