Electrochemiluminescent swimmers for dynamic enzymatic sensing

An electrochemiluminescent (ECL) swimmer driven by bipolar electrochemistry is reported for enzymatic glucose sensing. The chemomechanical 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.