Electrochemical immunosensor for α-fetoprotein detection using ferroferric oxide and horseradish peroxidase as signal amplification labels

An electrochemical immunosensor for quantitative detection of α-fetoprotein (AFP) in human serum was developed using graphene sheets (GS) and thionine (TH) as electrode materials and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) loaded with ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as labels for signal amplification. In this study, the compound of GS and TH (GS-TH) was used as a substrate for promoting electron transfer and immobilization of primary antibody of AFP (Ab1). MSNs were used as a carrier for immobilization of secondary antibody of AFP (Ab2), Fe3O4, and HRP. The synergistic effect occurred between Fe3O4 and HRP and greatly improved the sensitivity of the immunosensor. This method could detect AFP over a wide concentration range from 0.01 to 25 ng ml−1 with a detection limit of 4 pg ml−1. This strategy may find wide potential application in clinical analysis or detection of other tumor markers.