Designing an ultrasensitive immunosensor based on MWCNT/ZnS@CdS nanocomposite as an electrode surface modifier for detection of CEA biomarker

Ali Shamsazar; Mahsa Soheili Moghaddam; Nasim Jabbari; Behnam Babaei; Ramin Nasiri; Maryamosadat Mavaei

doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114936

Designing an ultrasensitive immunosensor based on MWCNT/ZnS@CdS nanocomposite as an electrode surface modifier for detection of CEA biomarker

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2025 Nov:255:114936. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114936. Epub 2025 Jul 3.

Authors

Ali Shamsazar¹, Mahsa Soheili Moghaddam², Nasim Jabbari³, Behnam Babaei⁴, Ramin Nasiri⁵, Maryamosadat Mavaei⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Electronic address: ali.shamsazar@uma.ac.ir.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
³ Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
⁵ Research Laboratory of Polymer, Department of Organic and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
⁶ Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of MedicalSciences, Kermanshah, Iran.

PMID: 40628109
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114936

Abstract

The use of biosensor techniques in the detection of the analytes at trace amounts is of great interest. In particular, electrochemical immunosensors offer an accurate and efficient analytical method for the measurement of biomarkers. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a biomarker commonly used in the monitoring of individuals with colon cancer. In this study, the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with a nanocomposite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and ZnS@CdS core-shell quantum dots (QDs). Due to the highly desirable physicochemical properties of these nanomaterials, the immunosensor designed in this study demonstrated the ability to detect CEA in a wide linear range from 0.0005 to 2.5 ng/mL, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.11 pg/mL. The electrode surface materials also offered excellent stability and properties. Considering the results of the immunosensor in CEA assay, it can be inferred that this new biosensor is a promising device for accurate CEA detection.

Keywords: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA); Immunosensor; Nanocomposite; Quantum dots (QDs).

MeSH terms

Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
Biosensing Techniques* / methods
Cadmium Compounds* / chemistry
Carcinoembryonic Antigen* / analysis
Carcinoembryonic Antigen* / blood
Electrochemical Techniques
Electrodes
Humans
Immunoassay / methods
Limit of Detection
Nanocomposites* / chemistry
Nanocomposites* / ultrastructure
Nanotubes, Carbon* / chemistry
Nanotubes, Carbon* / ultrastructure
Quantum Dots / chemistry
Sulfides* / chemistry
Surface Properties
Zinc Compounds* / chemistry

Substances

Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Nanotubes, Carbon
Sulfides
Cadmium Compounds
Zinc Compounds
zinc sulfide
cadmium sulfide
Biomarkers, Tumor