Bifunctional S, N-Codoped carbon dots-based novel electrochemiluminescent bioassay for ultrasensitive detection of atrazine using activated mesoporous biocarbon as enzyme nanocarriers

Abstract

A novel and ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescent (ECL) bioassay has been developed for the detection of atrazine (ATZ), whereby bifunctional S, N-codoped carbon dots (S, N-CDs) and activated mesoporous bicarbons (BCs) have been innovatively integrated to synergistically amplify the ECL signal. When endogenous dissolved O2 is used as a coreactant, its sluggish reduction hinders the enhancement of ECL intensity of the luminophore, thus restricting its further application in bioanalysis. Here, bifunctional S, N-CDs severe as not only the ECL luminophore but the coreaction accelerator of dissolved O2 to generate more intermediates to boost the coreaction without using any other coreactant and coreaction accelerator. The as-formed nanoarchitectures of BCs possess enlarged surface area as the nanocarriers. They could provide adequate active sites for immobilization of tyrosinase (Tyr), which greatly prompts the ECL bioassay applications. Such a smart integration of bifunctional S, N-CDs, activated mesoporous BCs and the enzyme inhibition reaction achieves a unique and attractive high-performance signal-on ECL bioassay, realizing ultrasensitive detection of ATZ. Under the optimal condition, this bioassay exhibits two linear ranges, from 0.0001 to 0.01 μg L−1 and 0.01–20 μg L−1 with a detection limit of 0.08 ng L−1 at signal to noise ratio of 3. The as-fabricated assay is sensitive and economical, opening a new way for the enhancement of ECL signal output and a versatile strategy for ultrasensitive ECL bioanalysis.