Enhanced electrochemiluminescence of luminol-DBAE system based on self-assembled mesocrystalline hybrid for the detection of ovarian cancer marker

Abstract

Herein, an enhanced lectrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was designed based on an efficient ECL bioprobe and first realized the quantitative analysis of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4). To obtain the efficient ECL bioprobe, a self-assembled mesocrystalline hybrid (TiO2 MCs@rGO) was first prepared for loading luminol and 2-(Dibutylamino)ethanol (DBAE), which was explored as a new coreacant of luminol for the first time and triggered more stable and efficient ECL intensity than conventional luminol-H2O2 system. Additionally, the high surface area and outstanding conductivity of TiO2 MCs@rGO would effectively amplify the ECL intensity. Besides, the synthesized macromolecular complex (PEDOT/PSS/NiCo2O4 NS) integrated the excellent conductivity of PEDOT/PSS and highly porous of NiCo2O4 nanosheets was served as an efficient sensing matrix for further improvement of the analysis sensitivity. The developed ECL immunosensor exhibited excellent performance in the analysis of HE4 with a wide linear range of 1.0 × 10−5 ˜1000 ng/mL and low detection limit of 3.3 × 10−6 ng/mL, especially superior stability. The strategy provided promising application for early ovarian cancer monitor and diagnosis, and provoked a new idea for other tumor markers detection.