Nano-bioelectronic Immunosensing Platform Integrated with Personalized Data Analytics for APO-A1 Evaluation in Human Serum

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most prevalent kind of liver cancer, has a substantial impact on the incidence of cancer worldwide. A decline in serum apolipoprotein-A1 levels has been attributed to the onset of liver cancer and its metastatic spread. Nevertheless, current diagnostic techniques are invasive, time-consuming, and expensive, highlighting the need for a facile, rapid, and cost-effective method. In light of this, we have designed an immunosensor for the facile and selective quantification of the HCC biomarker, APO-A1, in human serum samples within the clinical range. The immunosensing surface was developed using a nanocomposite composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), trimetallic gold cobalt bismuth nanodendrites (AuCoBi NDs), and graphene oxide (GO) sheets. Trimetallic dendrite-based nanohybrid systems exhibit good electrical conductivity and catalytic activity due to their hierarchical fern-like structure and synchronized action of the constituent metals within the dendritic architecture. However, in order to improve electrical conductivity, AuNPs were placed beneath the dendritic layer, and GO was coated onto the dendritic structure because its surface did not possess functional groups. The designed nano-bioelectronic immunosensing platform, glassy carbon electrode/gold nanoparticle/trimetallic gold cobalt bismuth nanodendrites/graphene oxide/Anti-APO-A1 antibody (GCE/AuNPs/AuCoBi NDs/GO/Anti-APO-A1), has the capability to quantify the marker in the wide linear dynamic range of 0.05 to 10,000 pg/mL with a limit of detection of 43 fg/mL. The practicality of the sensors for APO-A1 monitoring was demonstrated by real sample analysis in serum with recovery percentages ranging from 92.10 to 105.37%. The bioelectronic platform was further integrated with a data analytic platform for automated analysis of APO-A1, thereby highlighting its potential for point-of-care analysis.