A label-free fluorescent aptasensor based on the AIE effect and CoOOH for ultrasensitive determination of carcinoembryonic antigen

Anal Methods. 2022 Nov 18;14(44):4576-4582. doi: 10.1039/d2ay01146h.

Abstract

Highly sensitive and specific detection of cancer markers (such as carcinoembryonic antigen) is very important for early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Herein, we developed a label-free fluorescent aptamer biosensor based on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect and hydroxycobalt oxide (CoOOH) platform, and used it to detect carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) with high sensitivity and specificity. Fluorescent ionic liquid Compound B can combine with a CEA aptamer (CEA-Apt) through electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction to form an ionic liquid/aptamer (CEA-Apt/B) complex and produce the AIE effect, thereby enhancing the fluorescence intensity of B. CEA-Apt/B was adsorbed on the surface of CoOOH when CoOOH was added to the buffer solution, and the fluorescence of B was quenched. After adding CEA to the solution, CEA-Apt/B bound to CEA and separated from the surface of CoOOH because CEA-Apt had stronger affinity for CEA, resulting in fluorescence recovery of B. In the level range of 0.67-10000 pg mL-1, the fluorescence recovery intensity of the sensor had an excellent linear relationship with the level of CEA, and its LOD was 0.2 pg mL-1 (S/N = 3). In addition, the sensor had good selectivity and can be directly used to detect CEA in human serum with high accuracy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide* / chemistry
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Ionic Liquids*
  • Oxides / chemistry

Substances

  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • HCoO2
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Ionic Liquids
  • APT
  • Oxides