Electrochemiluminescent immunoassay for insulin by using a quencher pair consisting of CdS:Eu nanoclusters loaded with multiwalled carbon nanotubes on reduced graphene oxide nanoribbons and gold nanoparticle-loaded octahedral Cu2O

Aggregation-Induced Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Biosensor for Ultrasensitive Detection of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Based on Donor-Acceptor Organic Nanoparticles

Aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIECL) combines the merits of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL), which has become a research hot spot in recent years. Therefore, we synthesized a novel AIE compound (Z)-3-(4-(2-butyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-6-yl)phenyl)-2-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)phenyl)acrylonitrile (TPENI) with a donor-acceptor (D-A) structure, that is, a simple peripheral modification of 4-(2-butyl-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-6-yl) benzaldehyde (NI-CHO) with AIE-active tetraphenylethylene (TPE) to achieve the transition of NI-CHO from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) to an AIE molecule. When TPENI was in the aggregated state, the luminescence intensity was significantly enhanced due to the TPE structural unit restricting the free rotation of the intramolecular benzene ring, as well as the π-π stacking interactions of the molecules, which was conducive to the preparation of TPENI NPs as ECL materials. Satisfactorily, we found that the ECL intensity of TPENI NPs was increased by about 4.8-fold compared with that of the molecules dispersed in organic solution, and the stability reached about 1000 s. Based on the excellent ECL properties of TPENI NPs, an "on-off-on" ECL biosensor with a wider detection range (1 fg/mL to 100 ng/mL) and a lower detection limit of 0.20 fg/mL (S/N = 3) was proposed for sensitive analysis of a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Overall, this work provided a new approach to the realization of AIECL and laid the foundation for the application of naphthalimide derivatives in ECL.

Machine learning-assisted Te-CdS@Mn3O4 nano-enzyme induced self-enhanced molecularly imprinted ratiometric electrochemiluminescence sensor with smartphone for portable and visual monitoring of 2,4-D

Here, a novel and portable machine learning-assisted smartphone-based visual molecularly imprinted ratiometric electrochemiluminescence (MIRECL) sensing platform was constructed for highly selective sensitive detection of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for the first time. Te doped CdS-coated Mn₃O₄ (Te-CdS@Mn₃O₄) with catalase-like activity served as cathode-emitter, while luminol as anode luminophore accompanied H₂O₂ as co-reactant, and Te-CdS@Mn₃O₄ decorated molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as recognition unit, respectively. Molecular models were constructed and MIP band and binding energies were calculated to elucidate the luminescence mechanism and select the best functional monomers. The peroxidase activity and the large specific surface area of Mn₃O₄ and the electrochemical effect can significantly improve the ECL intensity and analytical sensitivity of Te-CdS@Mn₃O₄. 2,4-D-MIPs were fabricated by in-situ electrochemical polymerization, and the rebinding of 2,4-D inhibits the binding of H₂O₂ to the anode emitter, and with the increase of the cathode impedance, the ECL response of Te-CdS@Mn₃O₄ decreases significantly. However, the blocked reaction of luminol on the anode surface also reduces the ECL response. Thus, a double-reduced MIRECL sensing system was designed and exhibited remarkable performance in sensitivity and selectivity due to the specific recognition of MIPs and the inherent ratio correction effect. Wider linear range in the range of 1 nM-100 μM with a detection limit of 0.63 nM for 2,4-D detection. Interestingly, a portable and visual smartphone-based MIRECL analysis system was established based on the capture of luminescence images by smartphones, classification and recognition by convolutional neural networks, and color analysis by self-developed software. Therefore, the developed MIRECL sensor is suitable for integration with portable devices for intelligent, convenient, and fast detection of 2,4-D in real samples.

Cu2O@PdAg-quenched CdS@CeO2 heterostructure electrochemiluminescence immunosensor for determination of prostate-specific antigen

Based on the resonance energy transfer between CdS@CeO₂ and Cu₂O@PdAg, a quenching immunosensor for sensitive detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) was constructed. The CdS@CeO₂ heterostructure was obtained by in situ growth of CeO₂ particles on the surface of CdS nanorods, and stable cathodic ECL emission was achieved using K₂S₂O₈ as coreactant. Cu₂O@PdAg was composed of Cu₂O with tetradecahedral structure and bimetallic PdAg nanospheres and has a UV-V is absorption range between 600 and 800 nm. It overlaps with the ECL emission spectrum of CdS@CeO₂, realizing the effective quenching of the ECL signal, which provides feasibility for subsequent practical application. The immunosensor exhibited good linearity in the concentration range 10 fg·mL^-1 ~ 100 ng·mL^-1, with a detection limit of 5.6 fg·mL^-1. In sample analysis, the recoveries were 99.8-101%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 0.85-1.6% showing great potential and development value for the sensitive detection of prostate cancer.