Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for the prostate-specific antigen by using a CdS/chitosan/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor was fabricated for the evaluation of prostate specific antigen (PSA). The sensor was developed by successively modifying glassy carbon electrode (GCE) electrodes with CdS/Chito/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites and DNA1 was labeled at the 5' end with thiol. The aptamer DNA was labeled at the 3' end with a quencher ferrocene (Fc) was ligated to DNA1 by the principle of complementary base pairing. In the absence of PSA, the ECL intensity signal is effectively quenches through the energy transfer and photoexcitation electron transfer between CdS/Chito/g-C₃N₄ emitter and quencher Fc. After incubation with target PSA, the aptamer DNA interacts with PSA and then moved away from the electrode surface together, which will recover the ECL intensity. Under the optimal conditions, the ECL intensity increases linearly with the logarithm of PSA concentration in the range of 1 pg·mL^-1 to 100 ng·mL^-1, and the detection limit is 0.14 pg·mL^-1 (S/N = 3). The biosensor has been successfully applied to the determination of PSA in serum sample. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of the electrochemiluminescence sensor based on a CdS/chitosan/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite, which can be applied to the determination of prostate specific antigen in serum.