Label-free electrochemical immunosensor based on gold nanoparticle/polyethyleneimine/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for the ultrasensitive detection of cancer biomarker matrix metalloproteinase-1

• Published in: Analyst (London) 2021-06, Vol.146 (12), p.466-479
• Main Authors: Liu, Xinke, Lin, Lu-Yin, Tseng, Fu-Yen, Tan, Yu-Cheng, Li, Jian, Feng, Li, Song, Lijun, Lai, Chih-Fang, Li, Xiaohua, He, Jr-Hau, Sakthivel, Rajalakshmi, Chung, Ren-Jei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Biomarkers; Bonding strength; Brain; Brain cancer; Cancer; Carboxyl group; Chemical composition; Crystal structure; Gold; Graphene; Immunosensors; Matrix metalloproteinases; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Polyethyleneimine; Raman spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0003-2654; 1364-5528
• DOI: 10.1039/d1an00537e

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is associated with many types of cancers, including oral, colorectal, and brain cancers. This paper describes the fabrication of an MMP-1 immunosensor based on a gold nanoparticle/polyethyleneimine/reduced graphene oxide (AuNP/PEI/rGO)-modified disposable screen-printed electrode (SPE). A microwave-assisted single-step method was employed for the simultaneous reduction of gold and graphene oxide in a PEI environment to avoid AuNP agglomeration. The crystal structure, chemical composition, optical properties, and interior morphology of the materials were probed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. To assemble a label-free MMP-1 immunosensor layer-by-layer, 3-mercaptopropionic acid was utilized due to its strong sulfur-gold bonding ability, and its tail end was attached to a carboxyl group, allowing the MMP-1 antibody (anti-MMP-1) to be subsequently cross-linked using the traditional N -(3-dimethylaminopropyl) and N ′ ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride method. Differential pulse voltammetry analysis showed a linear relationship with MMP-1 concentration in the range of 1-50 ng ml −1 with an R 2 value of ∼0.996 ( n = 5, RSD < 5%). This immunosensor was successfully applied for MMP-1 detection in urine, saliva, bovine serum, and cell culture media (HSC-3 & C6) of oral and brain cancers showing results comparable to those of the credible ELISA method. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is associated with many types of cancers, including oral, colorectal, and brain cancers.