Novel dual-sensitization electrochemiluminescence immunosensor using photopermeable Ru(bpy)3 2+ -doped chitosan/SiO2 nanoparticles as labels and chitosan-decorated Nafion/MWNTs composites as enhancer

A novel dual-sensitization electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor for the detection of tumour protein prostate specific antigen (PSA) at trace level using Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ -doped chitosan/SiO₂ nanoparticles (Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ /chitosan/SiO₂ NPs) as the first signal enhancers was fabricated. Due to chitosan with excellent pore forming capacity, these nanoparticles possess porous structures and better photopermeability, and therefore have higher luminescence efficiencies compared with Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ /SiO₂ NPs reported in previous publications. Conversely, chitosan with good biocompatibility and high hydrophilicity was electrochemically decorated onto a Nafion/multiwall carbon nanotubes (Nafion/MWNTs) modified electrode surface and used as the second sensitizing matrix to seize large amounts of prostate specific capture antibody (Ab₁ ). The chitosan-decorated Nafion/MWNTs composites exhibited a 5.5-times higher ECL intensity than the unadorned Nafion/MWNTs films. Also, without additional reagents, such as (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTS), the one-step functionalized Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ /chitosan/SiO₂ NPs provided a large number of active arms to connect with PSA-detected antibodies (Ab₂ ) through the amino groups in chitosan. After a sandwich immunoreaction, the PSA antigen and Ru(bpy)₃ ²⁺ /chitosan/SiO₂ NPs-labelled Ab₂ were sequentially captured onto the Ab₁ /chitosan/Nafion/MWNTs-modified electrode surface. The ECL signal increases were linearly related to the PSA antigen concentrations and ranged from 0.01 pg·mLl^-1 to 10.0 pg·mLl^-1 . Under the optimized experimental conditions, the immunosensor displayed excellent sensitivity and selectivity. The detection limit was as low as 3.4 fg·mLl^-1 , equivalent to, or better than, those of the reported ECL immunosensors for PSA.

Electrochemiluminescence Biosensors Using Screen-Printed Electrodes

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (also called electrochemiluminescence (ECL)) has become a great focus of attention in different fields of analysis, mainly as a consequence of the potential remarkably high sensitivity and wide dynamic range. In the particular case of sensing applications, ECL biosensor unites the benefits of the high selectivity of biological recognition elements and the high sensitivity of ECL analysis methods. Hence, it is a powerful analytical device for sensitive detection of different analytes of interest in medical prognosis and diagnosis, food control and environment. These wide range of applications are increased by the introduction of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). Disposable SPE-based biosensors cover the need to perform in-situ measurements with portable devices quickly and accurately. In this review, we sum up the latest biosensing applications and current progress on ECL bioanalysis combined with disposable SPEs in the field of bio affinity ECL sensors including immunosensors, DNA analysis and catalytic ECL sensors. Furthermore, the integration of nanomaterials with particular physical and chemical properties in the ECL biosensing systems has improved tremendously their sensitivity and overall performance, being one of the most appropriates research fields for the development of highly sensitive ECL biosensor devices.

Luminescence properties of the Ln-EDTA complexes covalently linked to the chitosan biopolymers containing β-diketonate as antenna ligands

This paper reports on the preparation, characterization, and photoluminescence properties of novel hybrid materials, in which the EDTA-Ln-L complexes (where L: H₂ O, acac, bzac, dbm, and tta ligands, and Ln: Eu, Gd, and Tb) were covalently linked to the precursor medium molecular weight chitosan surface (CS) matrices or on the chitosan surfaces previously crosslinked with epichlorohydrin (CSech). The emission spectra of these materials were characterized by intraconfigurational-4fN transitions centred on the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions. Some broad bands from the polymeric matrix were also observed in the emission spectra, however the relative intensities of the intraconfigurational bands increased significantly for systems containing diketonate ligands when the antenna effect became more efficient. The values of the radiative rates (A_rad ) were higher for crosslinked hybrid systems with epichlorohydrin, while nonradiative rates (A_nrad ) presented the opposite behaviour. These data contributed to an increase in the values of emission quantum efficiency (η) for crosslinked materials. The effect of the modification process and antenna ligand on the values of intensities, intensity parameters Ω₂ e Ω₄ of the Eu³⁺ complexes were also investigated. The results showed that the crosslinked biopolymer surfaces have great potential for applications in molecular devices light converters.

Dual Electrochemiluminescence Signal System for In Situ and Simultaneous Evaluation of Multiple Cell-Surface Receptors

A mutiplex cytosensor based on a dual electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signal system was fabricated for in situ and simultaneous detection of the expression levels of multiple cell-surface receptors, mannose and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), using luminol-capped gold nanoparticles (Au@luminol) and CdS quantum dots (CdS QDs) as potential-resolved ECL nanoprobes. Two spatially resolved areas on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes were modified with polyaniline (PANI) by electropolymerization, on which gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were attached to strengthen conductivity and stability of the sensing interface. Human mucin1 protein (MUC1) aptamer was immobilized onto AuNPs for capturing MUC1-positive MCF-7 cells. Au@luminol and CdS QDs as ECL nanoprobes were covalently linked with concanavalin A (ConA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) to label MCF-7 cells on the two areas of the cytosensor separately. Compared to conventional multiplex biosensor, we demonstrated a novel analysis platform for the simultaneous detection of multiple cell-surface receptors; it could provide two sensitive and potential-resolved ECL signals during one potential scanning and avoid cross-reactivity between the two nanoprobes. The quantification of MCF-7 cells on the two spatially resolved areas could be achieved over the linear range from 10² to 1.0 × 10⁶ cells mL^-1 with a detection limit of 20 cells mL^-1. This multiplex cytosensor was further applied for simultaneous quantitative evaluation of the expression levels of mannose and EGFR on MCF-7 cells, revealed that the average numbers of mannose and EGFR per captured MCF-7 cell were 1.2 × 10⁶ and 0.86 × 10⁵ with the relative standard deviation of 5.3% and 4.2%, respectively. The multiplex cytosensor was capable of evaluating multiple cell-surface receptors, which would be beneficial to developing a better diagnostic tool for diseases.

Label-free electrochemical aptasensing of the human prostate-specific antigen using gold nanospears

Gold nanospears were electrodeposited with the assistance of arginine as a soft template and precise selection of experimental parameters. The nanospears were then employed as a transducer to immobilize an aptamer of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and fabrication of a label-free electrochemical aptasensor. The aptasensor was employed for the detection of PSA with a linear concentration range of 0.125-200ngmL(-1) and a limit of detection of 50pgmL(-1). The aptasensor was successfully applied to detect PSA in blood serum samples of healthy and patient persons.

Sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of prostate-specific antigen using palladium-doped cuprous oxide nanoparticles

A new and facile sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor is proposed for the ultrasensitive detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) based on Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) and palladium-doped cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Pd@Cu₂O NPs).

A supersandwich electrochemiluminescence immunosensor based on mimic-intramolecular interaction for sensitive detection of proteins

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay protocol was developed based on mimic-intramolecular interaction for sensitive detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA). It was constructed by integrating the ECL luminophore (tris(4,4'-dicarboxylicacid-2,2'-bipyridyl)-ruthenium(ii)dichloride (Ru(dcbpy)3(2+))) and coreactant (histidine) into the supersandwich DNA structure. This strategy was more effective in amplifying the ECL signal by shortening the electronic transmission distance, improving the ECL luminous stability and enhancing the ECL luminous efficiency. The ECL matrices denoted as MWCNTs@PDA-AuNPs were fabricated through spontaneous oxidative polymerization of dopamine (DA) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and reducing HAuCl4 to produce gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by DA simultaneously. Then, the prepared matrices were applied to bind capture antibodies. Moreover, supersandwich Ab2 bioconjugate was designed using a PAMAM dendrimer to immobilize the detection antibody and supersandwich DNA structure. The PAMAM dendrimer, with a plurality of secondary and tertiary amine groups, not only facilitated high-density immobilization of the detection antibody and supersandwich DNA structure, but also greatly amplified the ECL signal of Ru(dcbpy)3(2+). The supersandwich DNA structure contained multiple Ru(dcbpy)3(2+) and histidine, further amplifying the ECL signal. The proposed supersandwich immunosensor showed high sensitivity with a detection limit of 4.2 fg mL(-1) and a wide linear range of 0.01 pg mL(-1)-40.00 ng mL(-1). With the excellent stability, satisfying precision and reproducibility, the proposed immunosensor indicates promising practicability for clinical diagnosis.

Recent progress in prostate-specific antigen and HIV proteases detection

Proteases mediate a wide variety of biological events and have a critical role in the development of many diseases. Protease detection methods can be hindered by the limitation of assay safety, sensitivity, specificity, time constraints and ease of on-site analysis. Notably, the implementation of various detection methods on biosensing platforms translates them into practical biosensing applications. Currently, the detection of prostate cancer and AIDS at the earliest occasion is one of the major research obstacles. Therefore, recent advances focus on the development of portable detection systems toward point-of-care testing. These detection systems should be highly sensitive and specific for the detection of their prognostic biomarkers, such as the prostate-specific antigen and HIV load assay for prostate cancer and AIDS, respectively. These methods will also facilitate decision-making on a treatment regimen.

High-density assembly of chemiluminescence functionalized gold nanodots on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their application as biosensing platforms

A one-step strategy was developed for high-density assembly of N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) (ABEI) functionalized gold nanodots onto the sidewalls of chitosan-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (cs-MWCNTs) via the reduction of HAuCl4 with ABEI in the presence of cs-MWCNTs, resulting in novel hybrid nanomaterials with excellent chemiluminescence and electrochemiluminescence properties.

Current trends in the development of the electrochemiluminescent immunosensors

This review presents a general picture of the current trends and developments (2008-2013) related to electrochemiluminescence-based immunosensors. It briefly covers the milestones of qualitative changes in the field of electrochemiluminescent immunosensors; the peculiarities of the electrochemiluminescent immunoassay formats; the basic mechanisms of ECL detection, main features of early and ongoing approaches in electrochemiluminescent immunoassay commercial instruments, and the recent developments in fabrication of solid-state electrochemiluminescent immunosensors. Moreover, systematized data on biomarkers, immunoassay formats, and novel types of electrochemiluminescent label and immobilization support, such as semiconductor nanocrystals, porous noble metals, graphene, TiO2 nanotube arrays, metal-organic composites, multiwall carbon nanotubes, liposomes, photolummonescent carbone nanocrystals are presented as a table. Considerable efforts have also been devoted towards the following two key points: multiplexing analysis (multi-label, and the multianalyte strategies) and integration in microfluidic lab-on-paper devices with capabilities for point-to-care diagnostics. An immuno-like electrochemiluminescent sensor (based on synthetic receptors-molecularly imprinted polymers), as a new alternative to traditional electrochemiluminescent immunoassay is highlighted. Future perspectives and possible challenges in this rapidly developing area are also discussed.