High-Efficient Electrochemiluminescence of BCNO Quantum Dot-Equipped Boron Active Sites with Unexpected Catalysis for Ultrasensitive Detection of MicroRNA

Abstract

Herein, the boron radical active sites of boron carbon oxynitride quantum dots (BCNO QDs) are electrically excited to produce boron radicals (B•) for catalyzing peroxydisulfate (S2O8 2–) as a coreactant to accelerate the generation of abundant sulfate radicals (SO4 •–) for significant enhancement in the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) efficiency of BCNO QDs, which overcome the defect of traditional carbon-based QDs with low ECL efficiency. Impressively, under extremely low concentration of S2O8 2– solution, the BCNO QDs/S2O8 2– system could exhibit high ECL emission, realizing environmental friendliness and excellent biocompatibility for sensitive bioanalysis. As a proof-of-concept, BCNO QDs, a new generation of ECL emitters with high ECL efficiency, were successfully used in the ultrasensitive determination of microRNA-21, which pushes the exploration of new ECL emitters and broadens the application in the field of clinical diagnosis, ECL imaging, and molecular devices.

Polarization-Resolved Electrochemiluminescence Sensor Based on the Surface Plasmon Coupling Effect of a Au Nanotriangle-Patterned Structure

“…The observed 45 nm red shift of the ECL emission spectrum was attributed to the different luminescence mechanisms of QDs. The ECL and FL of QDs originated from surface state and intrinsic emission, respectively . Different solvents in the synthesis process also played an important role in the ECL intensity of SnS 2 QDs.…”

“…The ECL and FL of QDs originated from surface state and intrinsic emission, respectively. 27 Different solvents in the synthesis process also played an important role in the ECL intensity of SnS 2 QDs. Figure 3C demonstrates the trend of the ECL intensity of SnS 2 QDs that were prepared using different ratios of water and ethanol.…”

Progress and Prospects of Electrochemiluminescence Biosensors Based on Porous Nanomaterials

“…In addition to Ru(bpy) 3 2+ , quantum dots (QDs) are often used in the field of ECL biosensors as an efficient and stable luminescent [ 76 , 77 ]. In the recent study, Tan et al attached a large number of CdS QDs to chain-like polyethylenimine (PEI) via amide bonding, wrapped the modified PEI on the surface of MIL-53(Al), achieved massive loading of CdS QDs, and finally prepared MOF-based ECL signaling probes [ 78 ].…”

“…2+ , but also made the Ru complex produce strong and stable ECL signals through self-enhancement effect [46]. In addition to Ru(bpy)3 2+ , quantum dots (QDs) are often used in the field of ECL biosensors as an efficient and stable luminescent [76,77]. In the recent study, Tan et al attached a large number of CdS QDs to chain-like polyethylenimine (PEI) via amide bonding, wrapped the modified PEI on the surface of MIL-53(Al), achieved massive loading of In addition to Ru(bpy) 3 2+ , quantum dots (QDs) are often used in the field of ECL biosensors as an efficient and stable luminescent [76,77].…”

Self-Photocatalysis Boosted Electrochemiluminescence Signal Amplification via In Situ Generation of the Coreactant

“…The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technique has attracted intense attention in various fields of sensing and imaging owing to its advantages of fast response, high sensitivity, low cost, and ease of operation. − In general, the ECL biosensor mainly depended on the luminous efficiency of the luminophore. To enhance the ECL signal, various ECL luminophore materials have been exploited, such as luminol, perovskite nanocrystals, metal nanoclusters, − quantum dots, and aggregation-induced emission materials. , On another hand, many strategies have been reported on the ECL enhancement by developing a new coreactant, whereas they are limited to volatility, low electrochemical oxidation rate, and complicated pretreatment process. ,− As the typical representative of the ECL technique, the luminol–H 2 O 2 system as one sensing platform has been proven to be nontoxic, is of low cost, and gives high light-emitting quantum yield but suffers from the self-decomposition of H 2 O 2 , hampering its practical application in quantitative analysis. − To address this issue, research has been devoted to explore the alternative candidates of the coreactant H 2 O 2 to enhance ECL stability, that is, reactive oxygen species (ROS).…”