Abstract
Graphene-based materials have gained remarkable attention in numerous disciplines owing to their unique electrochemical properties. Out of various hybridized nanocomposites, graphene-zirconia nanocomposite (GZ) was distinctive due to its biocompatibility. Zirconia nanoparticles serve as spacers that reduce the stacking of graphene and improve the electrochemical performance of the material. Considering that lungs and skin suffer the greatest exposure to nanoparticles, this study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the as-synthesized GZ nanocomposites on MRC5 (lung cells) and HaCaT (skin cells) via morphological observation and cell viability assay using 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-(2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium (MTT). GZ-treated cells showed a comparable proliferation rate and morphology with untreated cells under microscopic evaluation. Based on MTT results, the IC50 values of GZ were > 500 µg/ml for MRC5 and HaCaT cells. The excellent biocompatibility was the supremacy of GZ over other nanocomposites applied as electrode materials in biosensors. GZ was functionalized with biolinker for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The proposed immunosensor exhibited good responses towards CEA detection, with a 4.25 pg/ml LOD and correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.99 within a linear working range from 0.01 to 10 ng/ml. The performance of the immunosensor to detect CEA present in human serum was also evaluated. Good recovery of CEA was found, suggesting that the proposed immunosensor possess a high affinity to CEA even in a complex biological matrix, rendering it a promising sensing platform for real sample analysis and open a new way for the detection of cancer-associated proteins.
Highlights
Graphene-based materials have gained remarkable attention in numerous disciplines owing to their unique electrochemical properties
A glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion, the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is known to be overexpressed in colorectal c ancers[5,6,7]
The CEA level of a healthy individual is ideally below 5.0 ng/ml[8], serum CEA levels higher than that of healthy persons led to its diagnostic role as a cancer indicator
Summary
Graphene-based materials have gained remarkable attention in numerous disciplines owing to their unique electrochemical properties. The CEA level of a healthy individual is ideally below 5.0 ng/ml[8], serum CEA levels higher than that of healthy persons led to its diagnostic role as a cancer indicator Conventional techniques such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are well documented in CEA detection[9,10], they still suffer from some drawbacks including the need for trained personnel to perform the test[11], lengthy assay d uration[12], background n oise[13] and potential false readings associated with the complex coloured sample[14]. Together with skins, suffer the utmost exposure to nanomaterial through inhalation and physical contact, it is imperative to investigate the effects of nanocomposite-cell interaction for these two types of c ells[31]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
