Voltammetric immunoassay for the carcinoembryonic antigen by using a glassy carbon electrode modified with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with tannic acid and grafted with poly(ethylene glycol)

The authors describe a voltammetric immunoassay for the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). A GCE was modified by electrodeposition of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with tannic acid (TA). Subsequently, four-armed poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was assembled onto the modified surface through hydrogen bonding. The fabrication steps were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry. The PEG/TA-PEDOT surface is shown be super-hydrophilic and to possess anti-fouling capability. Antibody against CEA was then covalently immobilized on the electrode. By using hexacyanoferrate as an electrochemical probe and at a working potential of 0.18 V vs SCE, the amperometric response is linear in the 10 ag·mL −1 to 1.0 ng·mL −1 CEA concentration range, and the detection limit is as low as 4.8 ag·mL −1 (at an S/N ratio of 3). The assay was applied to the quantification of CEA in 1:10 diluted human serum samples. Recoveries ranged from 103.7 to 108.7%, and relative standard deviations from 2.9 to 4.8%. Schematic of an electrochemical immunosensor for the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). It is based on the use of tannic acid (TA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), both deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and using hexacyanoferrate as the electrochemical probe. The sensor has a wide linear range and a 4.8 ag·mL −1 detection limit.