Achieving enhanced sensitivity and accuracy in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) detection as an indicator of cancer monitoring using thionine/chitosan/graphene oxide nanocomposite-modified electrochemical immunosensor

Environ Res. 2023 Dec 1;238(Pt 1):117163. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117163. Epub 2023 Sep 16.

Abstract

The current study has focused on electrochemical immunosensing of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) employing an immobilized antibody on a thionine, chitosan, or graphene oxide nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (anti-CEA/THi-CS-GO/GCE) as an indicator of cancer monitoring. THi-CS-GO nanocomposites were made using ultrasonication, and analyses of their morphology and crystal structure using SEM, FTIR, and XRD showed that thionine and chitosan molecules were intercalated with stacking interactions with both the top and bottom of GO nanosheets. Electrochemical experiments revealed anti-CEA, THi-CS-GO/GCE to have exceptional sensitivity and selectivity towards CEA compounds. The detection limit value was established to be 0.8 pg/mL when it was discovered that variations in the decrease peak current were directly proportional to the logarithm concentration of CEA over a wide range from 10-3 to 104 ng/mL. Results of testing the immunosensor's application capability for detecting CEA in a sample of human serum show that ELISA and DPV results are very congruent. The produced immunosensor demonstrated adequate immunosensor precision in determining CEA in prepared genuine samples of human serum and clinical applications.

Keywords: Carcinoembryonic antigen; Chitosan; Electrochemical immunosensor; Graphene oxide; Nanocomposite; Thionine.

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques* / methods
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / analysis
  • Chitosan* / chemistry
  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / methods
  • Limit of Detection
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Nanocomposites* / chemistry
  • Neoplasms*

Substances

  • graphene oxide
  • Chitosan
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • thionine
  • Gold