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A voltammetric immunoassay for the carcinoembryonic antigen using a self-assembled magnetic nanocomposite

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Abstract

The authors describe a voltammetric immunoassay for the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). It is based on the use of a self-assembled magnetic nanocomposite as multifunctional signal amplification platform. The core of the nanocomposite consists of Fe3O4 microspheres, and the shell of zirconium hexacyanoferrate loaded with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@ZrHCF@Fe3O4). The material was synthesized by an electrostatic self-assembly process which is caused by the strong interaction between cyano groups and AuNPs. The surface of the Fe3O4 microspheres was functionalized with amino groups to facilitate the immobilization of ZrHCF which acts as an electron mediator. The nanocomposite was placed on a glassy carbon electrode which then displays noteworthy electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The AuNPs serve as a support for the immobilization of antibodies by the interaction between AuNPs and amino groups on antibodies to construct a covalent Au-N bond. This facilitates electron transfer on the electrode surface using H2O2 as the electrochemical probe. Square wave voltammetry (measured typically at +0.2 V vs. SCE) was carried out to record the electrochemical behavior. Under the optimal conditions, a response is linear in the 0.5 pg·mL−1 to 50 ng·mL−1 CEA concentration range, and the detection limit is as low as 0.15 pg·mL−1 (S/N = 3). The method is selective, highly stable and acceptably reproducible.

A self-assembly magnetic nanocomposite for voltammetric immunoassay of CEA. GCE glassy carbon electrode; Au NPs gold nanoparticles; ZrHCF zirconium hexacyanoferrate; CEA carcinoembryonic antigen; Anti-CEA CEA antibody; BSA bovine serum albumin; SWV square wave voltammetry. A high sensitive voltammetric immunoassay method has been used for detecting CEA, It is based on a self-assembled magnetic nanocomposite (Au NPs@ZrHCF@Fe3O4) as multifunctional signal amplification platform.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (No.ZR2016BM20), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.21575050).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Interfacial Reaction & Sensing Analysis in Universities of Shandong, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, People’s Republic of China

    Li Liu, Guanhui Zhao, Yueyuan Li, Xuan Li, Xue Dong, Qin Wei & Wei Cao

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  1. Li Liu
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  2. Guanhui Zhao
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  3. Yueyuan Li
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  4. Xuan Li
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Correspondence to Wei Cao.

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Liu, L., Zhao, G., Li, Y. et al. A voltammetric immunoassay for the carcinoembryonic antigen using a self-assembled magnetic nanocomposite. Microchim Acta 185, 387 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-018-2919-y

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