AgInZnS quantum dots as anodic emitters with strong and stable electrochemiluminescence for biosensing application

Quantum dots (QDs) have become promising electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitters with high quantum yield and size-tunable luminescence. However, most QDs generate strong ECL emission at the cathode, developing anodic ECL-emitting QDs with excellent performance is challenging. In this work, low-toxic quaternary AgInZnS QDs synthesized by a one-step aqueous phase method were used as novel anodic ECL emitters. AgInZnS QDs exhibited strong and stable ECL emission and a low excitation potential, which could avoid the side reaction of oxygen evolution. Furthermore, AgInZnS QDs displayed high ECL efficiency (phi ECL) of 5.84, taking the phi ECL of Ru (bpy)32+/tripropylamine (TPrA) ECL system as 1. Compared to AgInS2 QDs without Zn doping and traditional anode luminescent CdTe QDs, the ECL intensity of AgInZnS QDs was 1.62 times and 3.64 times higher than that of AgInS2 QDs and CdTe QDs, respectively. As a proof-of-concept, we further designed an on-off-on ECL biosensor for detecting microRNA-141 based on a dual isothermal enzyme-free strand displacement reaction (SDR), which not only to achieve the cyclic amplification of the target and ECL signal, but also to construct a switch of the biosensor. The ECL biosensor had a wide linear range from 100 aM to 10 nM with a low detection limit of 33.3 aM. Together, the constructed ECL sensing platform is a promising tool for rapid and accurate diagnosis of clinical diseases.

Automated summary

In this study, low-toxic quaternary AgInZnS quantum dots were synthesized and used as novel anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitters. These QDs exhibited strong and stable ECL emission, a low excitation potential, and high ECL efficiency. An on-off-on ECL biosensor for detecting microRNA-141 was designed based on a dual isothermal enzyme-free strand displacement reaction, achieving cyclic amplification of the target and ECL signal, as well as a switch function. The ECL biosensor showed a wide linear range and low detection limit, making it a promising tool for rapid and accurate diagnosis of clinical diseases.