Electrochemical Immunoassay for Free Prostate Specific Antigen (f‐PSA) Using Magnetic Beads

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a prominent marker for the prostate carcinoma. It is found in human blood in free (f‐PSA) and complex forms. These two forms together are called total PSA (t‐PSA). Estimation of both forms is essential to predict malignancy. In this study we report a unique and effective technique of electrochemical detection of f‐PSA using magnetic beads on a three‐electrode screen‐printed sensor. A magnetic bead enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed in a cuvette. Following the immunoassay, magnetic beads were recovered by a magnetic concentrator and transferred on the working electrode of the 3‐electrode assembly. The amperometric response, a measure of the amount of residual enzyme activity on the beads and hence the concentration of analyte in solution, was determined by addition of enzyme substrate. The device has a detection limit of <0.1 ng mL −1 f‐PSA and a linear range of 0 to 1 ng mL −1 f‐PSA.