Construction and evaluation of AuNPs enhanced electrochemical immunosensors with [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and PPy probe for highly sensitive detection of human chorionic gonadotropin

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Jul;273(Pt 1):132963. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132963. Epub 2024 Jun 7.

Abstract

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a vital protein for pregnancy determination and a marker for trophoblastic diseases, finds application in monitoring early pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy. This study presents an innovative approach employing electrochemical immunosensors for enhanced HCG detection, utilizing Anti-HCG antibodies and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the sensor platform. Two sensor configurations were optimized: BSA/Anti-HCG/c-AuNPs/MEL/e-AuNPs/SPCE with [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- as a redox probe (1) and BSA/Anti-HCG/PPy/e-AuNPs/SPCE using polypyrrole (PPy) as a redox probe (2). The first sensor offers linear correlation in the 0.10-500.00 pg∙mL-1 HCG range, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.06 pg∙mL-1, sensitivity of 32.25 μA∙pg-1∙mL∙cm-2, RSD <2.47 %, and a recovery rate of 101.03-104.81 %. The second sensor widens the HCG detection range (40.00 fg∙mL-1-5.00 pg∙mL-1) with a LOD of 16.53 fg∙mL-1, ensuring precision (RSD <1.04 %) and a recovery range of 94.61-106.07 % in serum samples. These electrochemical immunosensors have transformative potential in biomarker detection, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and stability for advanced healthcare diagnostics.

Keywords: Electrochemical immunosensor; Gold nanoparticles; Human chorionic gonadotropin; Melamine; Polypyrrole.

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques* / methods
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin* / analysis
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin* / blood
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin* / immunology
  • Electrochemical Techniques* / methods
  • Female
  • Ferricyanides / chemistry
  • Gold* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / instrumentation
  • Immunoassay / methods
  • Limit of Detection*
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Polymers* / chemistry
  • Pyrroles* / chemistry

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Gold
  • Polymers
  • polypyrrole
  • Pyrroles
  • Ferricyanides
  • hexacyanoferrate III