CuI@graphene as antibody-free fluorosensor for prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

Abstract

In this study, a hassle- free, rapid, and green synthesis of a novel fluorosensor CuI@graphene nanocomposite (CuI@Gr) is described for antibody-free optical sensing of prostate- specific antigen (PSA), a biomarker of prostate cancer. Herein, we report enhanced efficacy of the prepared CuI@Gr nanoparticles by fabricating the surface of graphene nanoplatelets with CuI to sense PSA in serum medium using fluorescence spectroscopy with a ten-fold lower limit of detection (LOD) value as 0.331 pg/mL as compared to CuI nanoparticles with a linear range of detection 0.5–5 pg/mL. Moreover, CuI@Gr nanoparticles were found to have higher efficacy in the detection of PSA in the presence of 10 mM concentrations of individual interfering biomolecules such as glucose and cholesterol, which are present in serum due to different comorbidities such as diabetes or hypercholesterolemia. Significant improvement in the LOD values was obtained in case of comorbidities as compared to the normal condition with LOD values ranging from 0.189–0.331 pg/mL. Hence, our low-cost fluorosensor makes this detection method a sensitive as well as a specific one for the clinical diagnosis of patients having prostate cancer even having other pathophysiological conditions.