A high-sensitivity electrochemical aptasensor of carcinoembryonic antigen based on graphene quantum dots-ionic liquid-nafion nanomatrix and DNAzyme-assisted signal amplification strategy

Abstract In this work, we have developed an electrochemical aptasensor for high-sensitivity determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) based on lead ion (Pb 2+ )-dependent DNAzyme-assisted signal amplification and graphene quantum dot-ionic liquid-nafion (GQDs-IL-NF) composite film. We designed hairpin DNA containing CEA-specific aptamers and DNAzyme chains. In the presence of CEA, hairpin DNA recognized the target and performed a DNAzyme-assisted signal amplification reaction to yield a large number of single-stranded DNA. The GQDs-IL-NF composite film was immobilized on the glassy carbon electrode for the interaction with single-stranded DNA through noncovalent π-π stacking interaction. Therefore, the methylene blue-labeled substrate DNA (MB-substrate) was fixed on the electrode and exhibited an initial electrochemical signal. Under optimal conditions, the response current change was proportional to the concentration of CEA, demonstrating a wide linear range from 0.5 fg mL −1 to 0.5 ng mL −1 , with a low detection limit of 0.34 fg mL −1 . Furthermore, the proposed aptasensor was successfully applied in determining CEA in serum samples, showing its superior prospects in clinical diagnosis.