CuO/WO3 nanoparticles decorated graphene oxide nanosheets with enhanced peroxidase-like activity for electrochemical cancer cell detection and targeted therapeutics

Abstract The novel method was developed for electrochemical cancer cell detection using CuO/WO 3 nanoparticle decorated graphene oxide nanosheet (CuO/WO 3 -GO) with enhanced peroxidase like-activity, based on catalytic reaction of H 2 O 2 with o -Phenylenediamine (OPD). The prepared nanocomposite conjugated with folic acid (FA), as a cancer cell-targeting ligand, and a miniaturized electrochemical cell for cancer cell detection was designed. In this strategy OPD could oxidize in the presence of H 2 O 2 on the surface of working electrode, which produced an electrochemical signal. However, the redox response signal changed by interaction of cells with FA/CuO/WO 3 -GO. During interaction between cells and CuO/WO 3 -GO, some amount of H 2 O 2 –OPD system participated in chemical reaction and removed from the electrode, resulting in a decrease in the response signal. As a consequence, cancer cells detected in wide detection range of 50 to 10 5 cells/mL and a detection limit of 18 cells/mL. Furthermore, the nanocomposite shows therapeutic cancer treatment through superior peroxidase activity. This work unveils an effective method for simple, sensitive and selective monitoring of cancer cells and also has the potential for efficient cancer therapy, which will open an avenue of nanozymes toward biological applications.