Application of Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) Cameras in Electrochemiluminescence: A Minireview

Abstract

Photon detectors are important elements of optical analytical systems, such as electrochemiluminescence (ECL), and are used to determine the signal intensity. To accurately receive the photon signal in ECL, the detector should cover the wavelength range from approximately 400 to 700 nm for ECL experiments. However, the signal intensity is often too weak and cannot be observed by the naked eye or quantified digitally. Therefore, it is important to align the detector to the surface of the reaction site for the ECL system. In this minireview, a summary and comparison of photon-collecting tools to facilitate further study for choosing the proper detector of each ECL system is provided. Among all devices, charge couple device (CCD) cameras have gained significant attention in recent years. A CCD-integrated ECL device helps capture instant images and possess benefits such as miniaturization, portability, and low cost, which is in contrast to the alternatives. CCDs are utilized for diverse applications, including single-cell imaging, detection of molecules in cells and real samples, and the development of point-of-care testing, and are highly specific and provide ultra-sensitive detection. The signal collection is the last step in developing an ideal ECL system. The superior selectivity and sensitivity for the target of interest is promising for the construction of highly effective ECL biosensors.