Polyaniline@Au organic-inorganic nanohybrids with thermometer readout for photothermal immunoassay of tumor marker

A photothermal immunoassay using a thermometer as readout based on polyaniline@Au organic-inorganic nanohybrids was built. Temperature output is acquired due to the photothermal effect of the photothermal nanomaterial. Polyaniline@Au organic-inorganic nanohybrids were synthesized by interfacial reactions with high photothermal conversion efficiency. A sandwich structure of the immunocomplex was prepared on a microplate for determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by polyaniline@Au organic-inorganic nanohybrids as nanolabel. The released heat based on light-to-heat conversion from the photothermal nanolabel under NIR irradiation is detectable using the thermometer. The increased temperature is directly proportional to CEA concentration. The linear range of the photothermal immunoassay is 0.20 to 25 ng mL −1 with determination limit of 0.17 ng mL −1 . Graphical abstract Polyaniline@Au organic-inorganic nanohybrids with high photothermal conversion efficiency was synthesized as labels to construct photothermal immunosensor. The sandwich-type immunoassay was built on 96 hole plate based on specific binding of antigen and antibody. Carcinoembryonic antigen in sample was detected quantitatively by thermometer readout.