Procalcitonin sensitive detection based on graphene–gold nanocomposite film sensor platform and single-walled carbon nanohorns/hollow Pt chains complex as signal tags

• SWCNH/HPtC complex was used to label PCT Ab2.
• rGO–Au nanocomposite films were prepared by green and rapid electrodeposition as the sensor reaction platform.
• Hollow Pt chains (HPtCs) were synthesized.
• Dual signal amplification strategy based on HPtCs and HRP was used to enhance the signal.
• A novel electrochemical immunosensor of PCT was developed.

Septicemia is a serious disease that requires early diagnosis, and procalcitonin (PCT) serves as a diagnostic biomarker for this disease. Traditional clinical detection (via immune-gold chips) remains difficult and expensive. An electrochemical immunosensor based on new nanomaterials may provide a solving approach. Herein, an ultrasensitive sandwich electrochemical strategy for PCT detection was developed. Firstly, reduced graphene oxide (rGO)–gold (Au) nano-composite film was used as the immunosensor platform to increase the amount of PCT antibody 1(Ab1) immobilized. Next, single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs)/hollow Pt chains (HPtCs) complex was firstly utilized to label PCT Ab2 as signal tags. For SWCNHs with few side effects, high surface area and HPtCs with higher specific surface, better catalytic activity, complex synthesized from both may provide more advantages. Moreover, to amplify signal, HPtC catalytic activity with H2O2 was enhanced by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for dual synergy amplification. The whole results demonstrated that the proposed immunosensor exhibited fast operation, high sensitivity, good reproducibility, acceptable stability and ideal selectivity compared with traditional method. The linear calibration of the immunosensor ranged from 1.00 pg/mL to 2.00×101 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.43 pg/mL. Analytical application results revealed that the immunosensor matched with the real concentrations of serum samples. Overall this immunosensor may provide a new alternative strategy for PCT detection.