Nanogold-enwrapped graphene nanocomposites as trace labels for sensitivity enhancement of electrochemical immunosensors in clinical immunoassays: Carcinoembryonic antigen as a model

A new, highly sensitive electrochemical immunosensor with a sandwich-type immunoassay format was designed to quantify carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), as a model tumor marker, using nanogold-enwrapped graphene nanocomposites (NGGNs) as trace labels in clinical immunoassays. The device consisted of a glassy carbon electrode coated with Prussian Blue (PB) on whose surface gold nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited to the further modified with the specific analyte-capturing molecule, anti-CEA antibodies. The immunoassay was performed using horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated anti-CEA as secondary antibodies attached on the NGGN surface (HRP-anti-CEA-NGGN). The method using HRP-anti-CEA-NGGNs as detection antibodies shows high signal amplification, and exhibits a dynamic working range of 0.05–350 ng/mL with a low detection limit of 0.01 ng/mL CEA (at 3 s). The assayed results of serum samples with the sensor received an acceptable agreement with the reference values. Importantly, the methodology provides a promising ultrasensitive assay strategy for clinical applications.