Labeled free electrochemiluminescence aptamer platform based on one-step cathodic electrochemical growth of 2D/3D Ru-BTC-MOFs nanoparticles to detect carcinoembryonic antigen

[Ru(dcbpy)3]2+ functionalized 2D/3D hybrid metal–organic frameworks (Ru-BTC-MOFs), which performed good ECL performance, were synthesized by on one-step cathodic electrodeposition with Zn(NO3)2 as metal ion source, Ru(dcbpy)3Cl2) (tri(4,4-dicarboxybipyridine) ruthenium chloride) and H3BTC (1,3,5-phenyl tricarboxylic acid) as organic ligand. The effect of electrodeposition voltage, electrodeposition time, H3BTC and [Ru(dcbpy)3]Cl2 concentration on the morphology and ECL performance of Ru-BTC-MOFs were investigated in detail. An ECL biosensor platform for sensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was constructed by further modified AuNPs and aptamer on the Ru-BTC-MOFs/GCE. The specifically recognition and adsorption of CEA would hinder the electron transfer between Ru-BTC-MOFs and trinpropylamine (TPA) as the co-reactive agent, resulting in decreasing the ECL intensity. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the ECL intensity and logarithm of CEA concentration showed a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 10.0 fg/mL to 10.0 ng/mL, and the detection limit was 5.56 fg/mL. The proposed sensor performed acceptable reproducibility, repeatability, anti-interference ability and stability, and it would be expected to have broad application prospects in clinical trials.