A sensitive electrochemiluminescence biosensor based on metal-organic framework and imprinted polymer for squamous cell carcinoma antigen detection

An electropolymerized dopamine molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor was constructed to detect squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA). Besides having a large surface area, which allows the loading of more ZnSe quantum dots (ZnSeQDs), Fe(III)-MIL-88B-NH2 metal organic framework (MOF) is an efficient co-reaction accelerator that facilitates the transition of S2O82− into SO4−. As a result, the signal probe of Fe(III)-MIL-88B-NH2@ZnSeQDs/Ab has a strong ECL emission, which allowed the development of a three-way signal amplification strategy for ZnSeQDs emission. The electropolymerized dopamine MIP was found to improve the selectivity in the detection of SCCA. Under optimized conditions, the biosensor displayed a wide linear range from 0.0001 to 100 ng mL-1 with a detection limit of 31 fg mL-1. The prepared biosensor showed several advantages, including good specificity, outstanding selectivity and excellent stability. The proposed method can be used for the rapid and sensitive detection of SCCA in human serum and has promise for clinical application.