Multiarmed star-like platinum nanowires with multienzyme assembly for direct electronic determination of carcinoembryoninc antigen in serum

A new electrochemical immunoassay strategy for direct detection of carcinoembryoninc antigen (CEA) in serum was developed by using multiarmed star-like platinum nanowires (PtNWs) with biomolecular assembly as signal tags on an anti-CEA-functionalized graphene sensing platform. Initially, the PtNWs were synthesized via a wet chemical method, and then the synthesized PtNWs were used for the co-immobilization of CEA and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Compared with platinum nanoparticles, the prepared PtNWs could provide a large room for the conjugation of HRP and CEA. With a competitive-type immunoassay format, the assay was performed in two types of supporting electrolytes including new born cattle serum (NBCS) and acetate buffer solution (ABS, pH 5.5), respectively. Similar detection limit (LOD) of 5.0 pg mL⁻¹vs. 1.0 pg mL⁻¹ but narrower dynamic working linear range of 0.01–60 ng mL⁻¹vs. 0.002–80 ng mL⁻¹ was obtained toward CEA standards in the NBCS compared to the ABS. The intra-assay coefficients of variation (CVs) were 4.3%, 8.6%, and 6.2% at 0.05, 10, and 40 ng mL⁻¹ CEA, respectively, while the inter-assay CVs were 7.6%, 10.5%, and 8.9% at the above-mentioned levels, respectively. In addition, the selectivity and stability of the electrochemical immunosensor were acceptable. Importantly, the developed method was used to assay clinical serum specimens, receiving a good relation with those obtained from the referenced method.