Rice straw-derived 3D porous carbon-based electrochemical immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of alpha-fetoprotein

Z Zheng Yang W Wenyu Wang (Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy) W Wei Yang R Rumeng Dai (Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,) C Congwen Huang (Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,) C Chaofan Wu (Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,) L Linlin An (Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,) L Li Wang (The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital Zhengzhou China) S Suhua Fan (Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,) H Hai Wu

Abstract

To detect the core tumor marker of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation, N/O co-doped 3D porous carbons (SDNOC3D PCs) were synthesized using rice straw as the green precursor to construct the sensitive electrochemical immunosensor. The SDNOC3D PCs possess the hierarchically interconnected 3D porous network with the specific surface area of ca. 1333 m2 g−1, accompanied by uniformly distributed N/O heteroatomic functional groups and abundant defect sites. The SDNOC3D PCs electrochemical immunosensor exhibits a linear response range of 0.001–1000 pg ml−1 for AFP, with the limit of detection of ca. 0.93 fg ml−1. The excellent electrochemical detection performance may be due to the unique structure of SDNOC3D PCs, which enables the efficient immobilization of AFP antibodies by the synergy of physical adsorption and electrostatic interactions, accelerating the electron transfer kinetics at the electrode interface. This work provides a novel green paradigm for the high-value utilization of agricultural wastes for the rapid clinical detection of tumor markers.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 129, Issue 4
Published July 27, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

Z

Zheng Yang

W

Wenyu Wang

Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy

W

Wei Yang

R

Rumeng Dai

Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,

C

Congwen Huang

Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,

C

Chaofan Wu

Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,

L

Linlin An

Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,

L

Li Wang

The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital Zhengzhou China

S

Suhua Fan

Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, Engineering Research Center of Biomass Conversion and Pollution Prevention of Anhui Educational Institutions, Biomass Oligosaccharides Engineering Technology Research Center of Anhui Province, Fuyang Normal University , Fuyang 236037,

H

Hai Wu