Determination of the cervical cancer biomarker SCCA using CMK-3@UiO-66@AuNPs composite-modified glassy carbon electrodes

In order to detect the cervical cancer biomarker squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) in human serum, an electrochemical immunosensor was constructed. Zirconium 1,4-dicarboxybenzene MOF (UiO-66), with a high specific surface area, was coupled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), creating the UiO-66@AuNPs nanomaterial. This coupling increased the sensitivity of the electrochemical immunosensor by providing many biological binding sites for antibodies to bind to Au-S bonds. Then, mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) was added to the UiO-66@AuNPs nanomaterial to obtain a CMK-3@UiO-66@AuNPs nanocomposite. This further increased the electron transfer proficiency of the material and enhanced the electrochemical signal. Finally, the sensitive detection of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) was made possible by unique immunological responses between antigens and antibodies. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of CMK-3@UiO-66@AuNPs revealed embedded surfaces and voids; cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed the successful assembly of the electrochemical immunosensor. The developed electrochemical immunosensor demonstrated good linearity (R12 = 0.999) from 0.01 pg/mL – 10,000 pg/mL, which is the concentration range of SCCA in human serum. The limit of detection was 0.0034 pg/mL (at an S/N ratio of 3). The immunosensor exhibited excellent precision, stability and selectivity, with a high rate of recovery (98.26–101.8 %). The experimental validation studies demonstrated that the electrochemical immunosensor was effective for the detection of SCCA in human serum, offering a novel method for the early diagnosis and dynamic surveillance of cervical cancer.