Electrochemiluminescent swimmers for dynamic enzymatic sensing

Abstract

An electrochemiluminescent (ECL) swimmer driven by bipolar electrochemistry is reported for enzymatic glucose sensing. The chemo-mechanical motion is induced by localized hydrogen bubble generation. The concomitant oxidation of the luminophore and of the enzymatically-produced NADH leads to ECL emission with a direct glucose-dependent light intensity. We demonstrate herein the local sensing and reporting of glucose in a concentration gradient explored by the ECL swimmer. Such a dynamic sensing approach combines in a synergetic way the wireless propulsion with the enzymatic selectivity using ECL as a readout method at the level of moving objects.

Self‐Propelled Micro/Nanomotors for Sensing and Environmental Remediation

“…Micro/nanomotors also can be used for improving the sensing and detection in diagnostic systems. For instance, Sentic et al developed the electrochemiluminescent (ECL) swimmer, driven by bipolar electrochemistry for enzymatic glucose sensing . The oxidation of the luminophore and NADH, generated the ECL emission with a direct glucose‐dependent light intensity (Figure d).…”

“…d) Schematic of enzyme‐driven ECL on a bipolar swimmer. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2014, Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

Digital versatile disc bipolar electrode: A fast and low-cost approach for visual sensing of analytes and electrocatalysts screening

“…Recently, bipolar electrochemistry has been adopted in some fields in chemistry such as analysis [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] and screening of electrocatalysts [3,[24][25][26][27]. Electrocatalyst screening and analyte detection are signaled through fluorescence, electro generated chemiluminescence (ECL), and anodic dissolution of a metal film [28].…”

Linking glucose oxidation to luminol-based electrochemiluminescence using bipolar electrochemistry

“…[Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ -based ECL was induced by glucose dehydrogenase catalysed oxidation of glucose concomitantly forming the ECL co-reactant NADH [17]. Oxidation of blood glucose by means of glucose oxidase (GOx) yielded H 2 O 2 which was reduced on a three-compartment closed bipolar sensing platform [18].…”

“…Recently, biocatalysed reactions were employed for analyte detection using BPE [16][17][18]. [Ru(bpy) 3 ] 2+ -based ECL was induced by glucose dehydrogenase catalysed oxidation of glucose concomitantly forming the ECL co-reactant NADH [17].…”