Highly selective electrochemiluminescence aptasensor coupled with mesoporous Fe3O4@Cu@Cu2O as co-reaction accelerator for ATP assay based on target-triggered emitter release

For most of the sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensors, the probe molecules often need complex chemical modification to the aptamer or target. Herein, a novel and facile ECL platform was fabricated to detect adenosine triphosphate (ATP), based on the target-triggered DNA conformation change and emitter release. Concretely, the luminophore, [Ru(bpy)(2)dppz](2+), was anchored on single strand DNA owing to its extended aromatic structure and the electrostatic attraction. Benefiting from this model, sophisticated chemical labeling was avoided. Additionally, mesopomus Fe3O4@Cu@Cu2O nanocomposite was synthesized as the substrate to load plenty of ATP aptamers, and for the first time, it was used to expedite the oxidation of co-reactant TEA, achieving abundant cation radicals (TEA(center dot+)) and enhanced ECL signal. As a function of relative ATP concentration, changes in ECL intensity, was further studied, where a favorable linear range from 0.5 nmol/L to 2500 nmol/L was obtained with a low detection limit of 0.17 nmol/L. On account of the abovementioned points, this proposed ECL aptasensor exhibited high sensitivity and excellent specificity. These results demonstrate that the present platform may open a window to develop versatile implement for biomolecules detection in clinical diagnosis and bioanalysis.

Automated summary

A novel and facile ECL platform was developed to detect ATP based on target-triggered DNA conformation change and emitter release, achieving high sensitivity and excellent specificity. This platform has the potential to be a versatile tool for biomolecule detection in clinical diagnosis and bioanalysis.