Nonenzymatic Electrochemical Immunosensor Using Ferroferric Oxide–Manganese Dioxide–Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as Label for α-Fetoprotein Detection

A novel nonenzymatic electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated for quantitative detection of [Formula: see text]-fetoprotein (AFP). The immunosensor was constructed by modifying gold electrode with electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide-carboxyl multi-walled carbon nanotube composites (ERGO–CMWCNTs) and electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for effective immobilization of primary antibody (Ab[Formula: see text]. Ferroferric oxide–manganese dioxide–reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (Fe 3 O 4 @MnO 2 –rGO) were designed as labels for signal amplification. On one hand, the excellent electroconductivity and outstanding electron transfer capability of ERGO–CMWCNTs/AuNPs improved the sensitivity of the immunosensor. On the other hand, introduction of rGO could not only increase the specific surface area for immobilization of secondary antibody (Ab[Formula: see text] but also build a synergetic effect to reinforce the electrocatalytic properties of catalysts. Fe 3 O 4 @MnO 2 –rGO nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Using AFP as a model analyte, the proposed sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor exhibited a wide linear range of 0.01–50[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] with a low detection limit of 5.8[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]. Moreover, the Fe 3 O 4 @MnO 2 –rGO-based peroxidase mimetic system displayed an excellent analytical performance with low cost, satisfactory reproducibility and high selectivity, which could be further extended for detecting other disease-related biomarkers.