An innovative electrophoresis-coupled electrochemiluminescence immunosensor for rapid and sensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen

Abstract

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor provides unique advantages for the sensitive biomarker detection. However, the lengthy detection duration and plentiful system interferences have hindered their development. Here, we present an innovative approach in which electrophoresis coupled with ECL immunoassay was implemented to construct an electric field-enhanced ECL immunosensor for efficient detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The electrophoresis device can be regarded as an electric field-driven incubation system, with a working electrode as the anode and a platinum disk as the cathode. Upon applying direct voltage, CEA was swiftly transported to the electrode surface via an upward electric field force, drastically cutting the CEA incubation time from 60 min to just 5 min—a 12-fold reduction compared to traditional methods. Our method also achieved a broad linear detection range from 10⁻² to 10⁴ pg/mL, with a lower detection limit of 2.33 fg/mL. Additionally, we utilized the COMSOL Multiphysics-based numerical model and substantial experiment results, demonstrating that the incorporation of an electrophoresis system has allowed for rapid detection with high sensitivity, thereby boosting the overall efficiency of the ECL immunosensor. This study underscores the potential of the electric field-enhanced ECL immunosensor for broad application in the biodetection field.