Ti3C2Tx MXene-Au nanoparticles doped polyimide thin film as a transducing bioreceptor for real-time acoustic detection of carcinoembryonic antigen

Abstract Ti3C2Tx MXene was synthesized and the 2D layers were hybridized with Au nanoparticle (AuNP) through the in-situ method. The study was successfully prepared MXene 2D layer and the same was TEM captured as well. Polyimide/MXene-AuNP (PI/Mxene-AuNP) transducing conducting nanocomposite thin film was synthesized and evaluated the new material’s capability to use as a transducing thin film for biosensing application. The bioreceptor was prepared on the delay line area of the SAW device by covalently immobilizing mouse monoclonal antibody of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) through the thioglycolic acid arm linker mechanism. Immunoassay analysis has suggested that the biosensor responds linearly with the increase in the concentration of the CEA sample. The limit of detection was observed at 0.001 ng/mL. The insertion loss of the bioreceptor was recorded at 10 dB, which also mattered in the high sensitivity of the biosensor. The biosensor has shown excellent selectivity within the environment of other common tumour markers and was stable for 75 days under periodical testing conditions. Clinical serum samples were analyzed successfully and the results were compared with values obtained through the ELISA method.