Enhanced electrochemiluminescence imaging of single cell membrane proteins based on Co3O4 nanozyme catalysis

The development of enhanced strategies with excellent biocompatibility is critical for electrochemiluminescence (ECL) imaging of single cells. Here, we report an ECL imaging technique for a single cell membrane protein based on a Co3O4 nanozyme catalytic enhancement strategy. Due to the remarkable catalytic performance of Co3O4 nanozymes, H2O2 can be efficiently decomposed into reactive oxygen radicals, and the reaction with L012 was enhanced, resulting in stronger ECL emission. The anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was coupled with nanozyme particles to construct a probe that specifically recognized the overexpressed CEA on the MCF-7 cell membrane. According to the locally enhanced visualized luminescence, the rapid ECL imaging of a single cell membrane protein was eventually realized. Accordingly, Co3O4 nanozymes with highly efficient activity will provide new insights into ECL imaging analysis of more biological small molecules and proteins.

Automated summary

In this study, an ECL imaging technique for single cell membrane protein based on Co3O4 nanozyme catalytic enhancement strategy was developed. The highly efficient catalytic performance of Co3O4 nanozymes allows efficient decomposition of H2O2 into reactive oxygen radicals, leading to enhanced reaction with the luminescence reagent L012 and stronger ECL emission. The optimized design of Co3O4 nanozymes coupled with anti-CEA enables specific recognition of overexpressed CEA on the MCF-7 cell membrane, enabling rapid ECL imaging of single cell membrane protein.