Amperometric Immunosensor Based on Gold Nanoparticles/Fe3O4-FCNTs-CS Composite Film Functionalized Interface for Carbofuran Detection

In this paper, a novel amperometric immunosensor for the determination of carbofuran based on gold nanoparticles (GNPs), magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes-chitosan (Fe₃O₄-FCNTs-CS), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) composite film was proposed. First, GNPs were immobilized onto the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface, and then the magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles mixed with chitosan-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (CS-FCNTs) homogeneous composite (CS-FCNTs-Fe₃O₄) was immobilized onto the GNPs layer by electrostatic interactions between amino groups of CS and GNPs. Because chitosan (CS) contains many amino groups, it can absorb more antibodies. FCNTs have high surface area, high electrical conductivity, and it can enhance the electron transfer rate; Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles can provide a favorable microenvironment for biomolecules immobilization due to their good biocompatibility, strong superparamagnetic property, and low toxicity; and GNPs possess high surface-to-volume reaction, stability, and high conductivity. Gold Nanoparticles/Fe₃O₄-FCNTs-CS composite film was constructed onto the GCE surface, which had significant synergistic effects toward immunoreaction signal amplification. The stepwise assembly process was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the current response was proportional to the concentration of carbofuran ranging from 1.0 ng/mL to 100.0 ng/mL and from 100.0 ng/mL to 200 µg/mL with the detection limit 0.032 ng/mL. The proposed immunosensor exhibited good accuracy, high sensitivity, and stability, and it can be used for detection of carbofuran pesticide.     

Magnetic solid‐phase extraction for determination of sulpiride in human urine and blood using high‐performance liquid chromatography

A novel and efficient sample preconcentration technique based on the Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ MNPs) coated with silica (SiO₂) has been developed for extraction and determination of sulpiride. The functionalized MNPs showed excellent dispersibility in aqueous solution and were applied to magnetic solid‐phase extraction of sulpiride from human urine and blood prior to high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. The separation, preconcentration and desorption procedure was completed in 10 min. Optimal experimental conditions, including sample pH, the amount of the MNPs, eluent type and volume, and the ultrasonication time were studied and established. The method showed good linearity for the determination of sulpiride in the concentration range of 10–1000 ng/mL in urine and blood. The recovery of the method was in the range between 91.2 and 97.5%, and the limit of detection was 2 ng/mL for sulpiride in human blood and urine. The results indicated that the present procedure is a suitable pretreatment method for biological samples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gold nanoparticles/carbon nanotubes/ionic liquid microsized paste electrode for the determination of cortisol and androsterone hormones

A novel nanocomposite electrode material constituted of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and n-octylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (OPPF₆) ionic liquid was prepared and checked for the development of electrochemical (bio)sensing devices. AuNPs/MWCNTs/OPPF₆ paste electrodes with micrometer dimensions (500 μm, i.d.) were constructed and applied to the determination of cortisol and androsterone hormones. Regarding cortisol determination, the microsized paste electrode was used to detect 1-naphtol generated upon addition of 1-naphthyl phosphate as enzyme substrate in the competitive immunoassay between alkaline phosphatase-labelled cortisol and cortisol. Squarewave voltammetry allowed determining the hormone within the 0.1- to 10-ng/mL linear range (r?=?0.990) with a detection limit of 15 pg/mL and a EC₅₀ value of 0.46?±?0.06 ng/mL cortisol. The method was applied to the determination of cortisol in urine and serum samples containing a certified cortisol content. Moreover, a microsized enzyme biosensor prepared by bulk modification of the AuNPs/MWCNTs/OPPF₆ electrode with the enzyme 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was used for the determination of androsterone through the amperometric detection of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. A calibration plot with a linear range between 0.1 and 120 μg/mL (r?=?0.993) and a limit of detection of 89 ng/mL were obtained. The biosensor was applied to the analysis of human serum spiked with androsterone at the 250 ng/mL concentration level.     

Determination of β2-Agonists in Porcine Urine by Molecularly Imprinted Solid Phase Extraction Followed Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Detection

A novel, sensitive, and robust method has been developed to detect 9 β₂-agonists in porcine urine to monitor illegal use of β₂-agonists in swine rearing. The method based on the molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) rapid extraction followed ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) detection. The cleaning efficiency of MIP cartridges was demonstrated by comparing with common ion exchange solid phase extraction. The presented method was validated in accordance with the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The linearity, decision limit (CCα), detection capability (CCβ), recovery, precision, robustness, and stability were studied in detail. CCα and CCβ values were from 0.006 ng/mL to 0.03 ng/mL and from 0.02 ng/mL to 0.08 ng/mL, respectively. The mean recoveries and repeatability varied from 68.8% to 94.2% and from 2.8% to 10.1%. The proposed method was applied to test 170 porcine urine samples from the Shaanxi province in China and two urine samples were confirmed as clenbuterol positive and the concentrations of clenbuterol in positive urine samples were about 0.08 ng/mL and 0.1 ng/mL, respectively. The developed method was demonstrated to be more sensitive and robust for the determination of 9 β₂-agonists in porcine urine. The method was proven to be simple and easy in operation with high selectivity and good reproducibility.     

A Novel Magnetism‐assisted Electrochemical Immunosensor with Sub‐Picomolar Sensitivity

A novel electrochemical immunosensor based on a magnetic glassy carbon electrode (MGCE) was developed for the quantitative determination of human immunoglobulin G (IgG). The immunosensing interface was fabricated by initially depositing silver nanoparticles on the MGCE surface and then immobilizing anti‐human IgG antibodies via the magnetic force between MGCE and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The antibodies were covalently bonded to the amine‐functionalized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Under optimal conditions, the magnetism‐assisted immunosensor exhibited a wide linear range from 0.1 pg/mL to 1.0 µg/mL with the detection limit of 0.05 pg/mL. Furthermore, the immunosensor displayed the advantages of good reproducibility and satisfactory stability.     

Extraction of methocarbamol from human plasma with a polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite decorated with magnetic nanoparticles as an adsorbent followed by electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry detection†

In this work, a polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite decorated with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was chemically synthesized and applied as a novel adsorbent for the extraction of methocarbamol from human plasma. Electrospray ionization ion mobility spectrometry was used for the determination of the analyte. The properties of the magnetic‐modified adsorbent were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The effects of experimental parameters on the extraction efficiency of the sorbent were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the linear dynamic range was found to be 2–150 ng/mL with the detection limit of 0.9 ng/mL. The relative standard deviation was 5.3% for three replicate measurements of methocarbamol in plasma sample. The extraction efficiency of the sorbent for the determination of different drugs with various polarities was also compared to that of Fe₃O₄‐polypyrrole and Fe₃O₄‐multiwalled carbon nanotubes sorbents. Finally, the method was used for the determination of methocarbamol in blood samples.     

Highly sensitive simultaneous quantification of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in human plasma by magnetic solid-phase extraction based on P<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>PDA/Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanocomposite and high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid and sensitive method based on magnetic solid-phase extraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of buprenorphine (BPN) and its major metabolite, norbuprenorphine (N-BPN), in human plasma samples. Poly (para-phenylenediamine)-modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (PpPDA/Fe₃O₄) were synthesized and used as a magnetic adsorbent for the extraction and preconcentration of BPN and N-BPN in biological samples. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometery. An isocratic separation was achieved on a Nova-Pak C18 reversed-phase column using a mobile phase consisting phosphate buffer (pH 3.4) and acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1. The detection was conducted at 280 nm. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curves for BPN and N-BPN were linear in the ranges 3.0–150.0 and 1.0–120.0 ng mL^?1, respectively. The sensitivity was also high with limit of detection of 0.8 and 0.3 ng mL^?1 for BPN and N-BPN in plasma, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of BPN and N-BPN in human plasma samples with an average recovery of 98.10 and 96.41%, respectively.     

Optical determination of glucose and hydrogen peroxide using a nanocomposite prepared from glucose oxidase and magnetite nanoparticles immobilized on graphene oxide

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were deposited on sheets of graphene oxide (GO) by a precipitation method, and glucose oxidase (GOx) was then immobilized on this material to produce a GOx/Fe₃O₄/GO magnetic nanocomposite containing crosslinked enzyme clusters. The 3-component composite functions as a binary enzyme that was employed in a photometric method for the determination of glucose and hydrogen peroxide where the GOx/Fe₃O₄/GO nanoparticles cause the generation of H₂O₂ which, in turn, oxidize the substrate N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine to form a purple product with an absorption maximum at 550 nm. The absorbance at 550 nm can be correlated to the concentration of glucose and/or hydrogen peroxide. Under optimized conditions, the calibration plot is linear in the 0.5 to 600 μM glucose concentration range, and the detection limit is 0.2 μM. The respective plot for H₂O₂ ranges from 0.1 to 10 μM, and the detection limit is 0.04 μM. The method was successfully applied to the determination of glucose in human serum samples. The GOx/Fe₃O₄/GO nanoparticles are reusable.

Magnetic mixed hemimicelles solid‐phase extraction coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography for the extraction and rapid determination of six fluoroquinolones in environmental water samples

In this study, a mixed hemimicelle solid‐phase extraction method based on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles coated with sodium dodecyl sulfate was applied for the preconcentration and fast isolation of six fluoroquinolones in environmental water samples before high‐performance liquid chromatography determination. The main factors affecting the extraction efficiency of the analytes, such as amount of surfactant, amount of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, extraction time, sample volume, sample pH, ionic strength, and desorption conditions, were investigated and optimized. The method has detection limits from 0.05 to 0.1 ng/mL and good linearity (r ≥ 09948) in the range 0.1–200 ng/mL depending on the fluoroquinolone. The enrichment factor is ～200. The recoveries (at spiked levels of 1, 5, and 50 ng/mL) are in the range of 79–120%.     

A high selective and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for quantization of BPA urinary levels in children

A selective and highly sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for determination of Bisphenol A (BPA) in human urine using labeled d₆-BPA as internal standard. BPA was purified from human urine by affinity chromatography on solid extraction AFFINIMIP® Bisphenol A cartridges, based on molecularly imprinted polymers. After purification, the samples were analyzed on a Phenomenex Kinetex 100?×?4.6 mm, 2.6 μm particle PFP reversed-phase HPLC column, coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer by an electrospray ion source. Analyses were performed in the multiple reaction monitoring mode and negative ionization; the product ions at 133.2 and 212.1?m/z for BPA and at 138.2 and 215.0?m/z for d₆-BPA were monitored to assess unambiguous identification. The linearity of the detector response was verified in human urine over the concentration range 0.100–200 ng/mL. The detection limit was calculated as 0.03 ng/mL and the limit of quantification of the method is 0.10 ng/mL. This LC/ESI-MS/MS method was in-house validated evaluating specificity, trueness, within-day and between-days precision. The mean recoveries of BPA from spiked urine samples were higher than 94 % and good reproducibility (relative standard deviations?≤?8.1 %) was observed. The developed method was applied to a pilot study involving 105 children, aged from 6 to 14 years (16 normal weight and 89 obese children), from the Regione Campania (Southern Italy). The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of BPA in urine of children and possible correlations with childhood obesity.     

Synthesis and application of polythiophene-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles for preconcentration of ultra-trace levels of cadmium in different real samples followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

In this research, magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesised by co-precipitation method and modified with polythiophene (PT) to produce Fe₃O₄-PT nanoparticles for preconcentration and determination of cadmium (??) ion followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The results of FT-IR spectroscopy, EDX analysis and SEM images show that Fe₃O₄-PT nanoparticles were synthesised successfully. Different parameters such as sample pH, amounts of adsorbent, sample volume, extraction time, type and concentration of eluent and desorption time were completely investigated and optimum conditions were selected.

Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.01–0.25 µg L^?1 of cadmium (??). The relative standard deviation was 4.7% (n = 7, 0.10 µg L^?1 Cd²⁺) and limit of detection was 3.30 ng L^?1. The accuracy of the proposed method was verified by the analysis of a certified reference material and spike method. Finally, the proposed method was applied for the determination of ultra-trace levels of cadmium (??) in different water and food samples.     

Magnetic solid-phase extraction of malachite green using soluble eggshell membrane protein doped with magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposite

ABSTRACT

This study describes a new magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) technique based on Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide-soluble eggshell membrane protein (Fe₃O₄/GO-SEP) for accurate measurement of malachite green (MG) residue in various water samples residues by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The morphology of the prepared adsorbent has been studied by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy in details. Parameters affecting the MSPE were optimised and determined with UV-Vis spectrophotometry thoroughly. Under the optimised extraction circumstances, the introduced method represented a wide linearity over the concentration of 0.5–250 ng mL^?1, a high enrichment factor of 83.3 and low detection limit of 0.2 ng mL^?1. The prepared Fe₃O₄/GO-SEP was successfully used for preconcentration and determination of MG in river and fish farming water samples with suitable precision and accuracy.     

A nanocomposite consisting of graphene oxide and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles for the extraction of flavonoids from tea,wine and urine samples

We describe a single-step solvothermal method for the preparation of nanocomposites consisting of graphene oxide and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (GO/Fe₃O₄). This material is shown to be useful as a magnetic sorbent for the extraction of flavonoids from green tea, red wine, and urine samples. The nanocomposite is taking advantage of the high surface area of GO and the magnetic phase separation feature of the magnetic sorbent. The nanocomposite is recyclable and was applied to the extraction of flavonoids prior to their determination by HPLC. The effects of amount of surfactant, pH value of the sample solution, extraction time, and desorption condition on the extraction efficiency, and the regeneration conditions were optimized. The limits of detection for luteolin, quercetin and kaempferol range from 0.2 to 0.5 ng∙ mL⁻¹ in urine, from 3.0 to 6.0 ng∙mL⁻¹ in green tea, and from 1.0 to 2.5 ng∙mL⁻¹ in red wine. The recoveries are between 82.0 and 101.4 %, with relative standard deviations of <9.3 %.

The article describes a method for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of trace amounts of natural substances in complex samples by using graphene oxide (GO)-Fe₃O₄nanoparticles as the sorbent.

     

Magnetic solid-phase extraction of imatinib and doxorubicin as cytostatic drugs by Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>/graphene oxide nanocomposite

Magnetic solid-phase extraction based on Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide nanocomposites was investigated for the separation, preconcentration and determination of imatinib and doxorubicin in aqueous solutions. Synthesis of Fe₃O₄/graphene oxide was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer and vibrating sample magnetometer. After optimizing the conditions, optimal experimental conditions including sample pH, the amount of the magnetic nanoparticles, the effect of salt concentration and other chemotherapy medications, eluent type and extraction time were studied and established. The method showed good linearity for the determination of doxorubicin and imatinib in the concentration range of 0.01–100 μg mL^?1 in aqueous solutions with limit of detection 1.8 ng mL^?1 for doxorubicin and 1.9 ng mL^?1 for imatinib. The relative recoveries of doxorubicin and imatinib levels were 96.7 and 88.4%, respectively. The results indicate that the present procedure is a suitable method for extraction of imatinib and doxorubicin from environmental water samples.     

LC‐ESI‐MS/MS analysis of quercetin in rat plasma after oral administration of biodegradable nanoparticles

A simple, rapid and sensitive LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of free quercetin in rat plasma, using fisetin as internal standard. The detection was performed by negative ion electrospray ionization under selected reaction monitoring. Chromatographic separation (isocratic elution) was carried out using acetonitrile–10 m m ammonium formate (80:20, v/v) with 0.1% v/v formic acid. The lower limit of quantification (4.928 ng/mL) provided high sensitivity for the detection of quercetin in rat plasma. The linearity range was from 5 to 2000 ng/mL. Intra‐ and inter‐day variability (RSD) of quercetin extraction from rat plasma was <4.19 and 1.37% with accuracies of 98.77 and 99.67%. The method developed was successfully applied for estimating free quercetin in rat plasma, after oral administration of quercetin‐loaded biodegradable nanoparticles (QLN) and quercetin suspension. QLN (C_max, 1277.34 ± 216.67 ng/mL; AUC, 17,458.25 ± 3152.95 ng hr/mL) showed a 5.38‐fold increase in relative bioavailability as compared with quercetin suspension (C_max, 369.2 ± 108.07 ng/mL; AUC, 3276.92 ± 396.67 ng hr/mL). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of Fe3O4@C@CNC multifunctional magnetic core/shell nanoparticles and their application in a signal-type flow-injection photoluminescence immunosensor

We describe here the preparation of carbon-coated Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles that were further fabricated into multifunctional core/shell nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@C@CNCs) through a layer-by-layer self-assembly process of carbon nanocrystals (CNCs). The nanoparticles were applied in a photoluminescence (PL) immunosensor to detect the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CEA primary antibody was immobilized onto the surface of the nanoparticles. In addition, CEA secondary antibody and glucose oxidase were covalently bonded to silica nanoparticles. After stepwise immunoreactions, the immunoreagent was injected into the PL cell using a flow-injection PL system. When glucose was injected, hydrogen peroxide was obtained because of glucose oxidase catalysis and quenched the PL of the Fe₃O₄@C@CNC nanoparticles. The here proposed PL immunosensor allowed us to determine CEA concentrations in the 0.005–50 ng?·?mL^-1 concentration range, with a detection limit of 1.8 pg?·?mL^-1.

Magnetic nanofibrous polyaniline nanocomposite for solid-phase extraction of naproxen from biological samples prior to its spectrofluorimetric determination

Nanofibrous polyaniline–magnetite (PANI/Fe₃O₄) nanocomposite was in situ prepared through adsorption of magnetite nanoparticles onto PANI nanofibers surface and utilized as an efficient sorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction of naproxen from water and biological samples, followed a desorption step and spectrofluorimetric determination. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction techniques were employed for characterization of the prepared nanocomposite. The important parameters influencing the extraction efficiency including PANI/Fe₃O₄ mass ratio, adsorbent dose, extraction time, sample solution pH, ionic strength, type and volume of desorption solvent and the elution time were studied and optimized. The investigated nanocomposite was successfully applied to the extraction of naproxen in spiked tap water, urine and plasma samples, with a relative recovery in the range of 90–98%. The reusability of PANI/Fe₃O₄ was examined for ten successive cycles, and the results confirm that the efficiency did not change significantly. A linear calibration plot was obtained in the range of 40–1000 ng mL^?1 with a limit of detection about 17 ng mL^?1 under the optimum conditions. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was found to be 2.34% (n = 8, concentration level of 100 ng mL^?1). The kinetics and thermodynamics of the extraction process were also studied.     

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan–polyvinylpyrrolidone–bovine serum albumin-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as potential carrier for delivery of tamoxifen

The proposed study examined the preparation of chitosan (CS)–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)–bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated magnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄–CS–PVP–BSA) to use as potential drug delivery carriers for delivery of tamoxifen drug (TAM) . The anticancer drug selected in this study was tamoxifen which can be used for the human breast cancer treatment. These prepared nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM, CD and VSM techniques. The swelling studies have been measured at different (10, 20, 30, 40, 50%) drug loading. The mean particle size of the tamoxifen-loaded nanoparticles system (Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM, Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM–PVP and Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM–PVP–BSA) as measured by Malvern Zetasizer ranged between 350 ± 2.3 and 601 ± 1.7 nm. As well as these drug-loaded nanoparticles were positively charged. The zeta potential was in the range of 28.9 ± 3.5 and 50.8 ± 3.9 mV. The encapsulation efficiency was between 63.60 ± 2.11 and 96.45 ± 2.12%. Furthermore, in vitro release and drug loading efficiency from the nanoparticles were investigated. The cytotoxicity of prepared nanoparticles was verified by MTT assay. In vitro release studies were executed in 4.0 and 7.4 pH media to simulate the intestinal and gastric conditions and different temperature (37 and 42 °C). Hence, the prepared tamoxifen-loaded nanoparticles system (Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM, Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM–PVP and Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM–PVP–BSA) could be a promising candidate in cancer therapy.     

Application of a highly sensitive magnetic solid phase extraction for phytochemical compounds in medicinal plant and biological fluids by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive method using reduced graphene oxide with iron oxide (rGO/Fe₃O₄) as the sorbent in magnetic SPE has been developed for the purification of five anthraquinones (emodin, rhein, aloeemodin, physcion, and chrysophanol) in rhubarb and rat urine by ultra‐HPLC coupled with quadrupole TOF/MS. The extraction was accomplished by adding trace amount rGO/Fe₃O₄ suspension to 200 mL of aqueous mixture, and the excellent adsorption capacity of the nanoparticles was fully demonstrated in this procedure. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 0.05–27.77 ng/mL with correlation coefficients varying from 0.9902 to 0.9978. The LODs ranged from 0.28 to 58.99 pg/mL. The experimental results indicated that the proposed method was feasible for the analysis of anthraquinones in rhubarb and urine samples.     

Functional Magnetic Nanoparticles for Clinical Application: Electrochemical Immunoassay of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and α-Fetoprotein

This work reports an efficient method to quantify the Hepatitis B surface antigen and α-fetoprotein in human serum using a functional magnetic nanoparticle-assisted sandwich-type electrochemical immunoassay. The Fe ₃ O ₄ magnetic nanoparticles were first modified with carboxyl functional groups to permit stable bioconjugation to the amine groups of most biological targets. The primary antibodies were then covalently stained on the surface of the functional magnetic nanoparticles, followed by the analyte and secondary antibodies, resulting in a sandwich-type (antibody-antigen-antibody/enzyme) immune complex. The secondary antibodies were labeled with horseradish peroxidase for the catalytic oxidation of 2-aminophenol to yield electrochemically reducible molecules. The separation using an external magnetic field guaranteed fast and reliable purification and enrichment of analytes. Quantitative analysis was performed upon representative clinical targets: Hepatitis B surface antigen and α-fetoprotein in human serum. The detection limits were 0.06 ng/mL for the former and 0.5 ng/mL for the latter, which were about 10 times lower than values obtained by conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The reported method may be adopted as a general strategy for the sensitive and selective determination of additional proteins and biological molecules.