Ultrasensitive enzyme-free immunoassay for squamous cell carcinoma antigen using carbon supported Pd-Au as electrocatalytic labels

A novel nonenzymatic sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor has been developed to detect squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA). Nitrogen-doped graphene sheet (N-GS) was used to increase capacity of capturing primary antibodies (Ab(1)). Carbon-supported Pd-Au binary nanoparticles (Pd-Au/C) were synthesized and used to label secondary antibodies (Ab(2)). The specific binding of SCCA and antibodies enabled a quantitative attachment of Pd-Au/C on the electrode surface. Electrocatalytic analysis showed that the prepared Pd-Au/C exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). We use current response of electrocatalytic labels Pd-Au/C to detect the concentration of SCCA. The unique nonenzymatic immunosensor exhibits a relatively wide linear range from 0.005 to 2 ng ml(-1) and high sensitivity with a low detection limit of 1.7 pg mL(-1). The immunsensor also shows good reproducibility (4.2%) and stability (5.8%), which makes it an enormous application prospect in clinical research. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.