Amplified cathodic electrochemiluminescence of luminol based on Pd and Pt nanoparticles and glucose oxidase decorated graphene as trace label for ultrasensitive detection of protein

An ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was constructed for ultrasensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) based on an amplified cathodic ECL of luminol at low potential. Firstly, Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were electrodeposited onto single walled carbon nanotube–graphene composites (CNTs–Gra) coated glass carbon electrode (GCE) with enhanced surface area and good biocompatibility to capture primary antibody (Ab1) and then bind the antigen analytes. Secondly, Pd and Pt nanoparticles (Pd&PtNPs) decorated reduced graphene oxide (Pd&PtNPs@rGO) and glucose oxidase (GOD) labeled secondary antibody (Pd&PtNPs@ rGO–GOD–Ab2) could be captured onto the electrode surface by a sandwich immunoassay protocol to generate amplified cathodic ECL signals of luminol in the presence of glucose. The Pd&PtNPs@rGO composites and loaded GOD promoted luminol cathodic ECL response by efficiently catalyzing glucose to in-situ produce amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) working as a coreactant of luminol. Then in turn Pd&PtNPs catalyzed H2O2 to generate various reactive oxygen species (ROSs), which accelerated the cathodic ECL reaction of luminol, enhanced the cathodic ECL intensity of luminol and improved the sensitivity of the immunosensor. The as-proposed ECL immunosensor exhibited sensitive response on the detection of CEA ranging from 0.0001ngmL−1 to 160ngmL−1 with a detection limit of 0.03pgmL−1 (S/N=3). Moreover, the stability, specificity, lifetime and reproducibility tests demonstrated the feasibility of the developed immunoassay, which can be further extended to the detection of other disease biomarkers. •An ECL immunosensor was constructed based on an amplified cathodic ECL of luminol.•AuNPs deposited on CNTs–Gra improved biocompatible surface area and electron transfer rate.•Pd&PtNPs@rGO enhanced the loading amount of GOD and amplified the cathodic ECL of luminol.•The proposed immunosensor had excellent performance for the detection of CEA.