Ultrasensitive dual-signal ratiometric electrochemical aptasensor for neuron-specific enolase based on Au nanoparticles@Pd nanoclusters-poly (bismarck brown Y) and dendritic AuPt nanoassemblies

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is viewed as a tumor marker of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, whose facile and sensitive detection is critical for clinical diagnosis. In this work, core-shell Au nanoparticles @Pd nanoclusters-poly(bismarck brown Y) (Au@Pd-P(BBY)) and hierarchically dendritic AuPt nanoassemblies (AuPt NAs) were synthesized independently by a one-pot aqueous method. A dual-signal ratiometric electrochemical aptasensor was developed for ultrasensitive determination of NSE based on ferrocene grafted Au@Pd-P(BBY) (Fc-g-Au@Pd-P(BBY)) and reduced graphene oxide/thionine decorated AuPt NAs (rGO/Thi/AuPt NAs). Under optimal conditions, the changes in the peak currents linearly correlate to the NSE concentrations in the wide range of 0.0001.50.0 ng mL(-1) with ultralow detection limit (0.03 pg mL(-1), S/N = 3). The aptasensor was explored in a diluted human serum sample with acceptable results, showing its great potential in clinical diagnosis and treatment.