A novel immunosensor for carcinoembryonic antigen based on poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) protected prussian blue nanoparticles and double-layer nanometer-sized gold particles

A highly sensitive amperometric immunosensor has been developed for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). It is based on (a) Prussian Blue nanoparticles coated with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (P-PB) and (b) double-layer gold nanocrystals. The sensor was obtained by first electrodepositing porous gold nanocrystals on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and then by modifying the electrode with the coated P-PB. Subsequently, colloidal gold nanoparticles (nano-Au) were adsorbed onto the GCE by electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged nano-Au and the positively charged P-PB to immobilize CEA antibodies. Finally, bovine serum albumin was employed to block possible remaining active sites and to prevent the non-specific adsorption on the nano-Au. This immunosensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy. The working range was adjusted to two concentration ranges, viz. from 0.5 to 10 ng.mL−1, and from 10 to 120 ng.mL−1 of CEA, with a detection limit of 0.2 ng.mL−1 at three times the background noise.