Amperometric immunosensor for carcinoembryonic antigen detection with carbon nanotube-based film decorated with gold nanoclusters

A new amperometric immunosensor for the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was constructed. First, the uniform nanomultilayer film was fabricated via layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of positively charged carbon nanotubes wrapped by poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and negatively charged poly(sodium-p-styrene-sulfonate), which could provide a high accessible surface area and a biocompatible microenvironment. Subsequently, gold nanoclusters were electrodeposited on the electrode to immobilize anti-CEA. The fabricated process and electrochemical behaviors of the immunosensor were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under optimal conditions, the proposed immunosensor could detect CEA in two linear ranges from 0.1 to 2.0 ng mL−1 and from 2.0 to 160.0 ng mL−1, with a detection limit of 0.06 ng mL−1.