• MOF-based immunosensors for the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen: A concise review
  • Mansour Mahmoudpour,1 Zahra Karimzadeh,2,*
    1. Miandoab Schools of Medical Sciences, Miandoab, Iran.
    2. Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran


  • Introduction: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a crucial for glycoprotein cell adhesion during fetal development serves as a specific tumor marker for pancreatic, breast, and colon cancers. Elevated levels of CEA above 5 ng mL-1 in serum/plasma indicate an increased risk of these diseases. In the existence of CEA antigen identified as a tumor marker, the body produces antibodies (Abs) to help fight them. Accurate and rapid determination of CEA is essential for effective cancer treatment and clinical diagnosis. Hence, the advancement in selective and sensitive CEA determination is significant in clinical medicine. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous crystalline materials that have mostly received consideration for high-efficiency signal probes due to their large specific surface area, high porosity, and adjustable size and morphology. In this regard, immunoassay strategies using antigen-antibody interactions are crucial for precise measurement of target molecules in biochemical fields. This article discusses recent advancements in MOF synthesis methods and functionalization mechanisms with antigen/antibody for CEA immunoassays, employing electrochemical, electrochemiluminescent, and colorimetric techniques.
  • Methods: New ideas are provided for the development of efficient and novel immunoassay strategies due to the remarkable properties of MOF-Ab materials. Based on the type of detection, various immunosensors such as colorimetric, electrochemical, and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) immunosensors are constructed and their main features are summarized.
  • Results: In recent years, immunosensing techniques utilizing MOF-derived nanocomposites have gained popularity due to their rapid detection, high sensitivity, and selectivity, particularly in CEA monitoring. Thereinto, current techniques for the MOF’s synthesis and MOF-derived nanocomposites and their employment as detection platforms in immunosensors for CEA determination, are thoroughly discussed.
  • Conclusion: Immunosensors based on MOF-derived composites are still in the early stages of development, with advancements primarily observed in laboratory settings. It is crucial to further develop ECL, electrochemical, and optical immunoassays utilizing MOFs for practical applications with minimal user intervention. Future research efforts should prioritize the design of immunosensors and data transfer mechanisms to ensure both effectiveness and ease of use.
  • Keywords: Immunoassay; Metal organic framework; Synthesis and application; Biomedical analysis