Abstract

Biosensors capable of detecting cancer cell quantity is significant for cancer pathological investigation and prognosis. Herein, a facile electrochemiluminescent (ECL) biosensor is developed for cancer cell detection by comprehensively utilizing the features of functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) nanomaterials like well film-forming capability and functionalization level tunability. The solid-state ECL biosensor is fabricated via a simple dropping-drying method by subsequent deposition of g-CN nanosheets/graphene oxide nanocomposites (CNNS/GO) as ECL emitter, folate functionalized g-CN quantum dots (FA-CNQDs) as cancer cell capture agent, and bull serum albumin (BSA) as blocker to prevent nonspecific binding on glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs). The strong and stable ECL emission of CNNS/GO along with the tunability of FA content in FA-CNQDs endow the ECL biosensor with competitive sensitivity, which is able to detect folate receptor-positive cancer cells (HepG2) in the concentration range of 102 − 104 cells ml−1 under optimal condition. Additionally, the proposed ECL biosensor shows high specificity, reproducibility and long-term stability as well as good reliability towards serum sample detection.

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