Applications of nanomaterials in electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensors

Abstract

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (also called electrochemiluminescence and abbreviated ECL) involves the generation of species at electrode surfaces that then undergo electron-transfer reactions to form excited states that emit light. ECL biosensor, combining advantages offered by the selectivity of the biological recognition elements and the sensitivity of ECL technique, is a powerful device for ultrasensitive biomolecule detection and quantification. Nanomaterials are of considerable interest in the biosensor field owing to their unique physical and chemical properties, which have led to novel biosensors that have exhibited high sensitivity and stability. Nanomaterials including nanoparticles and nanotubes, prepared from metals, semiconductor, carbon or polymeric species, have been widely investigated for their ability to enhance the efficiencies of ECL biosensors, such as taking as modification electrode materials, or as carrier of ECL labels and ECL-emitting species. Particularly useful application of nanomaterials in ECL biosensors with emphasis on the years 2004-2008 is reviewed. Remarks on application of nanomaterials in ECL biosensors are also surveyed.

Keywords: Amplification; Biosensor; Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence; Nanomaterials; Review.

Figure 1.

Schematic diagrams of immobilization of BSA (a) and IgG (b) on the gold electrode with gold nanoparticle amplification. Reprinted from Ref [20] with permission from The American Chemical Society.

Figure 2.

Schematic diagram of the ECL detection for DNA hybridization. Reprinted from Ref [58] with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 3.

Schematic diagram of DNA hybridization on a polystyrene bead as the ECL label carrier and a magnetic bead for the separation of analyte-contained ECL label/polystyrene beads. Reprinted from Ref [62] with permission from The American Chemical Society.

Figure 4.

Schematic diagram showing the formation of a sandwich-type aggregate between an antibody-coated MB and an antibody-coated PSB containing entrapped ECL labels in the presence of the antigen species, and the separation of the newly formed aggregate with a magnet as well as the subsequent dissolution and ECL detection in MeCN using TPA as the coreactant. Reprinted from Ref [63] with permission from The American Chemical Society.

Figure 5.

Schematic representation of preparation Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-doped silica nanoparticles oligonucleotides probes (A) and the electrogenerated chemiluminescence detection of DNA hybridization based on the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-doped silica nanoparticles labeled oligonucleotides probes (B). Reprinted from Ref [72] with permission from Elsevier.

Figure 6.

Schematic representations of PL and ECL process of nanoparticle in the core and on the surface. Reprinted from Ref [100] with permission from The American Chemical Society.

Figure 7.

Fabricating Steps of the ECL Immunosensor. Reprinted from Ref [101] with permission from The American Chemical Society.