Synthesis of PGMA/AuNPs amplification platform for the facile detection of tumor markers

•The immunosensor realized fast and sensitive detection of tumor markers.•The immunosensor showed highly selective and good reproducibility.•A novel starlike composites (PGMA/AuNPs) was prepared.

Electrochemical immunosensor based on PGMA/AuNPs realized fast and sensitive detection of tumor markers. The poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) was prepared via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The abundant epoxy and terminal carboxyl provided ample sites for the introduction of electrochemical tags and detection antibody, respectively. The “starlike” composites composed of PGMA modified Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via AuS bonding were applied to the electrochemical immunosensor to achieve the signal amplification for the detection of tumor markers. A relatively low limit of detection (LOD, ∼2.4 pg/mL) and a comparatively wider detection range (5.85 × 101-5.85 × 104 pg/mL) (R2 =0.9802) were demonstrated. The new electrochemical immunosensor also exhibited highly selectivity.

Graphical abstractThe reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with CPADB as CTA and AIBN as initiator was employed to prepared well-defined poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) with terminal carboxyl and thio. Aunanoparticles (AuNPs) were modified with PGMA via AuS bonding to compose the “starlike” composites. Furthermore, the “starlike” composites loaded with antibody and electrochemical tags ferrocene were applied to the electrochemical immunosensor to achieve the signal amplification for the detection of tumor markers.Download full-size image