Impedimetric aptasensor based on zirconium-cobalt metal-organic framework for detection of carcinoembryonic antigen

A zirconium-cobalt metal-organic framework (ZrCo-MOF) was prepared and used as sensing material to fabricate an aptasensor for trace detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The ZrCo-MOF integrates the 3D porous structure and abundant defects of the MOF framework, the catalytic activity and inherent redox behavior of Co, and high stability of Zr-MOF, providing abundant active sites to effectively anchor aptamers. As a result, the ZrCo-MOF-based aptasensor shows high sensitivity to detect CEA via specific recognition between aptamer and CEA, as well as the formation of aptamer-CEA complex. A detection limit of 0.35 fg·mL^-1 was deduced from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy within a wide linear range of 0.001-100 pg·mL^-1 for CEA, which was substantially lower than those of most reported CEA biosensors. The ZrCo-MOF-based aptasensor also shows good selectivity, reproducibility, regenerability, stability, and applicability for human serum sample. Therefore, the developed ZrCo-MOF-based aptasensor will be promising for ultrasensitive detection of biomarkers and the early diagnosis of cancer. This work presents a novel electrochemical aptasensor for the trace detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) based on a zirconium-cobalt metal-organic framework (ZrCo-MOF), which shows low detection limit of 0.35 fg·mL^-1, high selectivity as well as good reproducibility, regenerability, stability, and applicability. The result provides a promising approach to detect the cancer biomarkers in an early age.