Resonance energy transfer between ZnCdHgSe quantum dots and gold nanorods enhancing photoelectrochemical immunosensing of prostate specific antigen

•Nanocomposites based on AuNRs integration with ZnCdHgSe QDs were synthesized.•The photocurrent response of ZnCdHgSe QDs was improved by resonance energy transfer.•A photoelectrochemical immunosensor was developed for PSA.•Highly sensitive and selective determination of PSA was confirmed.

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) integrated with ZnCdHgSe near-infrared quantum dots (AuNRs-ZnCdHgSe QDs) were successfully synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. A glassy carbon electrode was decorated with the aforementioned AuNRs-ZnCdHgSe QDs nanocomposite, which provides a biocompatible interface for the subsequent immobilization of prostate specific antibody (anti-PSA). After being successively treated with glutaraldehyde vapor and bovine serum albumin solution, a photoelectrochemical immunosensing platform based on anti-PSA/AuNRs-ZnCdHgSe QDs/GCE was established. The photocurrent response of ZnCdHgSe QDs was tremendously improved by AuNRs due to the effect of resonance energy transfer which can be deduced from the dependence of the enhanced efficiency on the AuNRs with different length-to-diameter ratios and spectral absorption characteristics. A maximum photocurrent was obtained when the absorption spectrum of AuNRs matched well with the emission spectrum of ZnCdHgSe QDs. A photoelectrochemical immunosensor for prostate specific antigen (PSA) was achieved by monitoring the photocurrent variation. The photocurrent variation before and after being interacted with PSA solution exhibits a good linear relationship with the logarithm of its concentration (logcPSA) in the range from 1.0 pg mL−1 to 50.0 ng mL−1. The detection limit of this photoelectrochemical immunosensor is able to reach 0.1 pg mL−1 (S/N = 3). Determining PSA in clinical human serum was also demonstrated by using the developed anti-PSA(BSA)/AuNRs-ZnCdHgSe QDs/GCE electrode. The results were comparable with those obtained from an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (153KB)Download full-size image