Graphene-assisted plasmonic patch for sensitive fluorescence detection of prostate-specific antigen

Fluorescence-based biosensing has emerged as a powerful diagnostic strategy due to its high sensitivity, specificity, and real-time detection capabilities. However, conventional fluorescence assays are often limited by weak fluorescence signals and high background noise, restricting their diagnostic applicability. To address these challenges, we present a dual-effect fluorescence biosensing platform that integrates a plasmonic patch for signal enhancement with a graphene layer for background noise suppression. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an essential biomarker for prostate cancer, was selected as the model target to validate this approach. In our design, plasmonic nanostructures amplified signals from fluorophores conjugated to detection antibodies specifically bound to PSA antigens, while the graphene layer effectively quenched signals from nonspecifically bound fluorophores. The combined effects demonstrated that the graphene-assisted plasmonic patch achieved highly sensitive PSA detection with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.28 pg/mL. Furthermore, the platform exhibited strong selectivity, effectively distinguishing PSA from non-target proteins such as CA242, CA199, and CRP. This work highlights the potential of combining nanomaterial-based enhancement and quenching strategies to overcome the intrinsic limitations of fluorescence biosensing. The demonstrated platform not only offers a highly sensitive tool for PSA detection but also provides a generalizable strategy for early-stage disease diagnosis and real-time monitoring of diverse biomarkers.