Electochemiluminescence of CdTe/CdS Quantum Dots with Triproprylamine as Coreactant in Aqueous Solution at a Lower Potential and Its Application for Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection of Cu2+

Anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)‐ capped CdTe/CdS core‐shell quantum dots (QDs) with tripropylamine (TPrA) as the co‐reactant were studied in aqueous (Tris buffer) solution for the first time. The results suggest that the oxidation of TPrA at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface participated in the ECL of QDs, and the onset potential and the intensity of ECL of CdTe/CdS QDs were affected seriously by TPrA, as the co‐reactant, in Tris buffer solution. The onset potential of ECL in this new system was about +0.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the ECL intensity greatly enhanced when TPrA was present. Various influencing factors, such as the electrolyte, pH, QDs concentration, potential range and scan rates on the ECL were studied. Based on the selective quenching by Cu²⁺ to the light emission from CdTe/CdS QDs/TPrA system, a highly sensitive and selective method for the determination of Cu²⁺ was developed. At the optimal conditions, the relative ECL intensity, I₀/I, was proportional to the concentration of Cu²⁺ from 14 nM to 0.21 μM with the detection limit of 6.1 nM based on the signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3. The possible ECL mechanism of QDs and the quenching mechanism of ECL were proposed.     

Single‐Atom Iron Boosts Electrochemiluminescence

The traditional luminol–H₂O₂ electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing platform suffers from self‐decomposition of H₂O₂ at room temperature, hampering its application for quantitative analysis. In this work, for the first time we employ iron single‐atom catalysts (Fe‐N‐C SACs) as an advanced co‐reactant accelerator to directly reduce the dissolved oxygen (O₂) to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Owing to the unique electronic structure and catalytic activity of Fe‐N‐C SACs, large amounts of ROS are efficiently produced, which then react with the luminol anion radical and significantly amplify the luminol ECL emission. Under the optimum conditions, a Fe‐N‐C SACs–luminol ECL sensor for antioxidant capacity measurement was developed with a good linear range from 0.8 μm to 1.0 mm of Trolox.     

Quantum dots based electrochemiluminescent immunosensor by coupling enzymatic amplification for ultrasensitive detection of clenbuterol

An ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor based on CdSe quantum dots (QDs) has been designed for the detection of clenbuterol. The immunosensor was fabricated by layer by layer and characterized with atomic force microscopic images (AFM) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). In oxygen-saturated pH = 9.0 Tris-HCl buffer, a strong ECL emission of QDs could be observed during the cathodic process due to the H₂O₂ product from electrochemical reduction of dissolved oxygen. Upon the formation of immunocomplex, the second antibody labeled with horseradish peroxidase was simply immobilized on the electrode surface. The ECL emission decreased since steric hindrance of the immunocomplex slowed down the electron-transfer speed of dissolved oxygen, and also could be greatly amplified by an enzymatic cycle to consume the self-produced coreactant. Using clenbuterol as model analyte, the ECL intensity was determined by the concentration of competitive immunoassay of clenbuterol with a wide calibration in the range of 0.05 ng mL⁻¹ to 1000 ng mL⁻¹, and a low detection limit was 0.02 ng mL⁻¹. The immunosensor shows good stability and fabrication reproducibility. It was applied to detecting practical samples with the satisfactory results. This immunosensing strategy opens a new avenue for detection of residue and application of QDs in ECL biosensing.     

Amine‐Rich Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanodots as a Platform for Self‐Enhancing Electrochemiluminescence

Amine‐rich nitrogen‐doped carbon nanodots (NCNDs) have been successfully used as co‐reactant in electrochemiluminescence (ECL) processes. Primary or tertiary amino groups on NCNDs have been studied as co‐reactant sites for Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ ECL, showing their eligibility as powerful alternatives to tripropylamine (TPrA). We also report the synthesis and ECL behavior of a new covalently linked hybrid of NCNDs and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. Notably, the NCNDs in the hybrid act both as carrier for ECL labels and as co‐reactant for ECL generation. As a result, the hybrid shows a higher ECL emission as compared to the combination of the individual components, suggesting the self‐enhancing ECL of the ruthenium complex due to an intramolecular electron transfer process.     

CdSe Quantum Dots Based Electrochemiluminescence Immunosensor with Simple Structure for Ultrasensitive Detection of Salbutamol

A rapid and ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) competitive immunoassay based on CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and the shorter chain as possible (cysteamine and glutaraldehyde) has been designed for the detection of salbutamol (SAL). Cysteamine and glutaraldehyde made coating antigen immobilize well on the gold electrode surface through the reaction between functional groups, which brought about the simplicity of the immunosensor to some extent. Transmission electron microscopy image, dynamic light scattering, photoluminescence, ultraviolet‐visible absorption and electrochemical impedance spectra were used to characterize the prepared CdSe QDs and the cysteamine/glutaraldehyde/Ovalbumin‐SAL/anti‐SAL‐QDs immunosensor. In the air‐saturated PBS buffer containing 0.1 M K₂S₂O₈ and 0.1 M KCl (pH 9.0), a strong ECL emission of QDs can be observed which depended linearly on the logarithm of the salbutamol concentration with a wide range from 0.05 ng mL^?1 to 100 ng mL^?1, and a detection limit of 0.0056 ng mL^?1. The sensitivity, repeatability, and specificity of the ECL immunosensor have been evaluated. The sensor has been applied to real samples with satisfactory results. This work will open new ways of detecting food additive residue based on QDs ECL in immunoassays.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence from thiol-capped CdTe quantum dots and its sensing application in aqueous solution

In this paper, the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) from thiol-capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) was reported. The ECL emission was occurred at −1.1 V and reached a maximum value at −2.4 V when the potential was cycled between 0.0 and −2.5 V. The reduced species of CdTe QDs could react with the coreactants to produce the ECL emission. The CdTe QD concentration (6.64 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹) of ECL is lower than that (1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹) of chemiluminescence (CL). Based on the enhancement of light emission from thiol-capped CdTe QDs by H₂O₂ in the negative electrode potential, a novel method for the determination of H₂O₂ was developed. The light intensity was linearly proportional to the concentration of H₂O₂ between 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 6.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. Compared with most of previous reports, the proposed method has higher sensitivity for the determination of H₂O₂. In addition, the ECL spectrum of thiol-capped CdTe QDs exhibited a peak at around 620 nm, which was substantially red shifted from the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, suggesting the surface states play an important role in this ECL process.     

A hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes-polyvinyl butyral film modified electrode

A novel approach to construct a amperometric biosensor for determination of H₂O₂ is described. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a base enzyme was immobilized into the mixture of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB). Taking the classical hydroquinone as mediator, cyclic voltammetry and amperometric measurements were used to study and optimize the performance of the resulting H₂O₂ biosensor. The effect of the concentration of MWNTs, HRP, hydroquinone, solution pH, and the working potential of amperometry on the electrochemical biosensor was systematically studied. The results showed that the fabricated biosensor demonstrated significant electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of hydrogen peroxide with wide linear range from 0.000832 to 0.6 mM, and low detection limit 0.000167 mM (S/N = 3) with fast response time less than 8 s. The apparent Michaelis–Menten constant was determined to be 0.049 mM. Additionally, the biosensor exhibited high sensitivity, rapid response and good long-term stability.     

Amperometric Biosensor for Hydrogen Peroxide,Using Supramolecularly Immobilized Horseradish Peroxidase on the β‐Cyclodextrin‐Coated Gold Electrode

Horseradish peroxidase, previously modified with 1‐adamantane moieties, was supramolecularly immobilized on gold electrodes coated with perthiolated β‐cyclodextrin. The functionalized electrode was employed for the construction of an amperometric biosensor device for hydrogen peroxide using 1 mM hydroquinone as electrochemical mediator. The biosensor exhibited a fast amperometric response (6 s) and a good linear response toward H₂O₂ concentration between 12 μM and 450 μM. The biosensor showed a sensitivity of 1.02 mA/M cm², and a very low detection limit of 5 μM. The electrode retained 97% of its initial electrocatalytic activity after 30 days of storage at 4 ⁰C in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0.     

A MgO Nanoparticles Composite Matrix‐Based Electrochemical Biosensor for Hydrogen Peroxide with High Sensitivity

A novel horseradish peroxidase (HRP) electrochemical biosensor based on a MgO nanoparticles (nano‐MgO)‐chitosan (chit) composite matrix was developed. The morphology of nano‐MgO‐chit nanocomposite was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The interaction between nano‐MgO‐chit nanocomposite matrix and enzyme was characterized with UV‐vis spectra. This proposed composite material combined the advantages of inorganic nanoparticles and organic polymer chit. The HRP immobilized in the nanocomposite matrix displayed excellent electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of H₂O₂ in the presence of hydroquinone as a mediator. The effects of the experimental variables such as solution pH and the working potential were investigated using steady‐state amperometry. The present biosensor (HRP‐modified electrode) had a fast response towards H₂O₂ (less than 10 s), and excellent linear relationships were obtained in the concentration range of 0.1–1300 μM, with a detection limit of 0.05 μM (S/N=3). Moreover, the stability and reproducibility of this biosensor were evaluated with satisfactory results.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of anatase TiO₂ nanotubes film

Highly ordered titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotubes film was successfully synthesized via anodic oxidation of a Ti foil in an ammonium fluoride-based ethylene glycol solution. The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of the resulting TiO₂ nanotubes film was subsequently studied. Strong ECL emission was observed at −1.40 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the ECL spectrum displayed three emission peaks which were bathochromatically shifted by ca. 140 nm as compared to its corresponding photoluminescence (PL) emission peaks, indicating that the surface state plays an important role in the emission process. The ECL emission can also occur in a deareated solution attributing to the surface adsorbed O₂ molecules. The ECL emission intensity was quenched by dopamine and greatly enhanced in the presence of dissolved O₂ and H₂O₂, making it possible to detect these analytes. The TiO₂ nanotubes film has been successfully applied to determine the dissolved O₂ content in river and pond water samples, the H₂O₂ concentration in commercial disinfectant samples and the dopamine concentration in commercial dopamine injections with satisfactory results. The plausible ECL mechanisms of TiO₂ nanotubes film in aqueous solution are discussed.     

Electrochemiluminescence of Tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium with Various Co‐reactants under Ultrasound Irradiation

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium, Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ in the presence of various co‐reactants, such as tripropylamine (TPA), oxalate ion (C₂O₄^2?), ascorbic acid (H₂A) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), were investigated under ultrasound irradiation. In sono‐ECL experiments, an indium‐thin‐oxide (ITO) was used as working electrode, and a titanium tipped sonic horn probe (diameter 2 mm) which operated at a frequency of 20 kHz was set in the front of the ITO electrode. Under the ultrasound irradiation, ECL signals were found to be significantly enhanced when TPA and C₂O₄^2? were used as co‐reactants, only slightly enhanced in Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/DHA system, but total quenched in Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/H₂A system. The difference of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ ECL behaviors for various co‐reactant could to be due to the different kinetics of catalytic reactions associated in ECL schemes. ECL quenching effect observed in Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/H₂A system was suggested to be due to electron transfer (ET) route between the excited state *Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and ascorbate anion HA^? diffused from the bulk solution, where the diffusional HA^? species served as electron donor. The effect becomes more pronounced upon sonication because the effective collision frequency between *Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ and HA^? would be significantly increased by the enhanced mass transport effect of ultrasound.     

Hemin Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes as a Matrix for Sensitive Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Cholesterol Biosensor

Based on hemin‐MWCNTs nanocomposite and hemin‐catalyzed luminol‐H₂O₂ reaction, a sensitive electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) cholesterol biosensor was proposed in this paper. Firstly, hemin‐MWCNTs was prepared via π–π stacking and modified on the surface of GCE. Subsequently, cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) was adsorbed on the modified electrode to achieve a cholesterol biosensor. Hemin‐MWCNTs nanocomposite provided the electrode with a large surface area to load ChOx, and endowed the nanostructured interface on the electrode surface to enhance the performance of biosensor. The biosensor responded to cholesterol in the linear range from 0.3 µM to 1.2 mM with a detection limit of 0.1 µM (S/N=3).     

Highly sensitive electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensor in profiling protein kinase activity and inhibition using a multifunctional nanoprobe

We presented a novel electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for monitoring the activity and inhibition of protein kinases based on signal amplification using enzyme-functionalized Au NPs nanoprobe. In this design, the biotin-DNA labeled glucose oxidase/Au NPs (GOx/Au NPs/DNA-biotin) nanoprobes, prepared by conjugating Au NPs with biotin-DNA and GOx, were bound to the biotinylated anti-phosphoserine labeled phosphorylated peptide modified electrode surface through a biotin−avidin interaction. The GOx assembled on the nanoprobe can catalyze glucose to generate H₂O₂ in the presence of O₂ while the ECL reaction occurred in the luminol ECL biosensor. At a higher concentration of kinase, there are more nanoprobes on the electrode, which gives a higher amount of GOx at the electrode interface and thus higher electrocatalytic efficiency to the luminol ECL reaction. Therefore, the activity of protein kinases can be monitored by ECL with high sensitivity. Protein kinase A (PKA), an important enzyme in regulation of glycogen, sugar, and lipid metabolism in the human body, was used as a model to confirm the present proof-of-concept strategy. The as-proposed biosensor presents high sensitivity, low detection limit of 0.013 U mL⁻¹, wide linear range (from 0.02 to 40 U mL⁻¹), and excellent stability. Moreover, this biosensor can also be used for quantitative analysis of kinase inhibition. On the basis of the inhibitor concentration dependent ECL signal, the half-maximal inhibition value IC₅₀ of ellagic acid, a typical PKA inhibitor, was estimated, which is in agreement with those obtained using the conventional kinase assay. The simple and sensitive biosensor is promising in developing a high-through assay of in vitro kinase activity and inhibitor screening for clinic diagnostic and drug development.     

Carbon nanospheres enhanced electrochemiluminescence of CdS quantum dots for biosensing of hypoxanthine

This work developed a novel method to greatly enhance the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of CdS quantum dots (QDs). The ECL amplification was achieved by the assembly of QDs on poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-functionalized carbon nanospheres (PFCNSs), and successfully employed for sensitive ECL biosensing of oxidase substrates. The carbon nanospheres were prepared by a “green” method, and the high loading of QDs on carbon nanospheres led to a 4-times increased ECL intensity with dissolved O₂ as the coreactant. Using xanthine oxidase (XOD) as a model, an ECL biosensor was fabricated by immobilizing the enzyme on the mixing membrane of PFCNSs and QDs. The ECL biosensor showed a fast response to hypoxanthine with a linear concentration range from 2.5 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ M. The limit of detection was 5 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The assay results of hypoxanthine in fish samples were in a good agreement with the reference values by amperometric technique. This facile approach to prepare the PFCNSs/QDs system for ECL biosensing could be of promising application in bioanalysis and electronic device.     

An H2O2 Biosensor Based on Immobilization of Horseradish Peroxidase Labeled Nano‐Au in Silica Sol‐Gel/Alginate Composite Film

Abstract

A novel approach to assemble an H₂O₂ amperometric biosensor was introduced. The biosensor was constructed by entrapping horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeled nano‐scaled particulate gold (nano‐Au) (HRP‐nano‐Au electrostatic composite) in a new silica sol‐gel/alginate hybrid film using glassy carbon electrode as based electrode. This suggested strategy fully merged the merits of sol‐gel derived inorganic‐organic composite film and the nano‐Au intermediator. The silica sol‐gel/alginate hybrid material can improve the properties of conventional sol‐gel material and effectively prevent cracking of film. The entrapment of HRP in the form of HRP‐nano‐Au can not only factually prevent the leaking of enzyme out of the film but also provide a favorable microenvironment for HRP. With hydroquinone as an electron mediator, the proposed HRP electrode exhibited good catalytic activity for the reduction of H₂O₂. The parameters affecting both the qualities of sol‐gel/alginate hybrid film and the biosensor response were optimized. The biosensor exhibited high sensitivity of 0.40 Al mol^?1 cm^?2 for H₂O₂ over a wide linear range of concentration from 1.22×10^?5 to 1.46×10^?3 mol L^?1, rapid response of <5 s and a detection limit of 0.61×10^?6 mol L^?1. The enzyme electrode has remarkable stability and retained 86% of its initial activity after 45 days of storage in 0.1 mol L^?1 Tris‐HCl buffer solutions at pH 7.     

Electroactive Metal–Organic Frameworks as Emitters for Self‐Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence in Aqueous Medium

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have limited applications in electrochemistry owing to their poor conductivity. Now, an electroactive MOF (E‐MOF) is designed as a highly crystallized electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitter in aqueous medium. The E‐MOF contains mixed ligands of hydroquinone and phenanthroline as oxidative and reductive couples, respectively. E‐MOFs demonstrate excellent performance with surface state model in both co‐reactant and annihilation ECL in aqueous medium. Compared with the individual components, E‐MOFs significantly improve the ECL emission due to the framework structure. The self‐enhanced ECL emission with high stability is realized by the accumulation of MOF cation radicals via pre‐reduction electrolysis. The self‐enhanced mechanism is theoretically identified by DFT. The mixed‐ligand E‐MOFs provide a proof of concept using molecular crystalline materials as new ECL emitters for fundamental mechanism studies.     

Amperometric hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on the immobilization of heme proteins on gold nanoparticles-bacteria cellulose nanofibers nanocomposite

A novel matrix, gold nanoparticles-bacterial cellulose nanofibers (Au-BC) nanocomposite was developed for enzyme immobilization and biosensor fabrication due to its unique properties such as satisfying biocompatibility, good conductivity and extensive surface area, which were inherited from both gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BC). Heme proteins such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP), hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) were successfully immobilized on the surface of Au-BC nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The immobilized heme proteins showed electrocatalytic activities to the reduction of H₂O₂ in the presence of the mediator hydroquinone (HQ), which might be due to the fact that heme proteins retained the near-native secondary structures in the Au-BC nanocomposite which was proved by UV-vis and IR spectra. The response of the developed biosensor to H₂O₂ was related to the amount of AuNPs in Au-BC nanocomposite, indicating that the AuNPs in BC network played an important role in the biosensor performance. Under the optimum conditions, the biosensor based on HRP exhibited a fast amperometric response (within 1 s) to H₂O₂, a good linear response over a wide range of concentration from 0.3 μM to 1.00 mM, and a low detection limit of 0.1 μM based on S/N = 3. The high performance of the biosensor made Au-BC nanocomposite superior to other materials as immobilization matrix.     

Design of Sensitive Biocompatible Quantum‐Dots Embedded in Mesoporous Silica Microspheres for the Quantitative Immunoassay of Human Immunodeficiency Virus‐1 Antibodies

A novel sandwich‐type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was developed to enable the sensitive detection of HIV‐1 antibodies. This system incorporated mesoporous silica (mSiO₂) complexed with quantum dots (QDs) and nano‐gold particles, which were assembled to enhance signal detection. Magnetic beads were used by immobilizing the secondary anti‐IgG antibody. This was first employed to capture HIV‐1 antibody (Ab) to form a Fe₃O₄/anti‐IgG/Ab complex. A high loading and signal‐enhanced nanocomposite (hereafter referred to as Au‐mSiO₂‐CdTe) was used as a HIV‐1 antigen label. The Au‐mSiO₂‐CdTe nanocomposite was conjugated with the Fe₃O₄/anti‐IgG/Ab complex to form an immunocomplex (hereafter referred to as Fe₃O₄/anti‐IgG/Ab/HIV‐1/CdTe‐mSiO₂‐Au). This complex could be further separated by an external magnetic field to produce ECL signals. Due to the large specific surface area and pore volume of mSiO₂, the loading of the CdTe QDs was markedly increased. Thus, the loaded QDs released a powerful chemiluminescent signal with a concordantly increased sensitivity of the immunosensor. The immunosensor was highly sensitive, and displayed a linear range of responses for HIV‐1 antibody across a dilution range of 1 : 1500 through 1 : 50 with the detection limit of 1 : 4500. The immunoassay can be a promising candidate in early diagnosis of HIV infection.     

Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence from a Stoichiometric Ruthenium(II)–Iridium(III) Complex Soft Salt

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and electrochemistry are reported for a heterometallic soft salt, [Ru(dtbubpy)₃][Ir(ppy)₂(CN)₂]₂ ( [Ir][Ru][Ir] ), consisting of a 2:1 ratio of complementary charged Ru and Ir complexes possessing two different emission colors. The [Ru]²⁺ and [Ir]^? moieties in the [Ir][Ru][Ir] greatly reduce the energy required to produce ECL. Though ECL intensity in the annihilation path was enhanced 18× relative to that of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, ECL in the co‐reactant path with tri‐n‐propylamine was enhanced a further 4×. Spooling spectroscopy gives insight into ECL mechanisms: the unique light emission at 634 nm is due to the [Ru]²⁺* excited state and no [Ir]^?* was generated in either route. Overall, the soft salt system is anticipated to be attractive and suitable for the development of efficient and low‐energy‐cost ECL detection systems.     

A New Amperometric Biosensor Based on HRP/Nano-Au/L-Cysteine/Poly（o-Aminobenzoic acid）-Membrane-Modified Platinum Electrode for the Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide

The third generation amperometric biosensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） has been described. For the fabrication of biosensor, o-aminobenzoic acid （oABA） was first electropolymerized on the surface of platinum （Pt） electrode as an electrostatic repulsion layer to reject interferences. Horseradish peroxidase （HRP） absorbed by nano-scaled particulate gold （nano-Au） was immobilized on the electrode modified with polymerized o-aminobenzoic acid （poABA） with L-cysteine as a linker to prepare a biosensor for the detection of H2O2. Amperometric detection of H2O2 was realized at a potential of ＋20 mV versus SCE. The resulting biosensor exhibited fast response, excellent reproducibility and sensibility, expanded linear range and low interferences. Temperature and pH dependence and stability of the sensor were investigated. The optimal sensor gave a linear response in the range of 2.99×10^-6 to 3.55×10^-3 mol·L^-1 to H2O2 with a sensibility of 0.0177 A·L^-1·mol^-1 and a detection limit （S/N = 3） of 4.3×10^-7 mol·L^-1. The biosensor demonstrated a 95% response within less than 10 s.