Carbon nanodot–based electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensor for miRNA-21 detection

A simple carbon nanodot–based electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensor is described for sensitive and selective detection of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21), a biomarker of several pathologies including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The photoluminescent carbon nanodots (CNDs) were obtained using a new synthesis method, simply by treating tiger nut milk in a microwave reactor. The synthesis is environmentally friendly, simple, and efficient. The optical properties and morphological characteristics of the CNDs were exhaustively investigated, confirming that they have oxygen and nitrogen functional groups on their surfaces and exhibit excitation-dependent fluorescence emission, as well as photostability. They act as co-reactant agents in the anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of [Ru(bpy)3]2+, producing different signals for the probe (single-stranded DNA) and the hybridized target (double-stranded DNA). These results paved the way for the development of a sensitive ECL biosensor for the detection of miRNA-21. This was developed by immobilization of a thiolated oligonucleotide, fully complementary to the miRNA-21 sequence, on the disposable gold electrode. The target miRNA-21 was hybridized with the probe on the electrode surface, and the hybridization was detected by the enhancement of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+/DNA ECL signal using CNDs. The biosensor shows a linear response to miRNA-21 concentration up to 100.0 pM with a detection limit of 0.721 fM. The method does not require complex labeling steps, and has a rapid response. It was successfully used to detect miRNA-21 directly in serum samples from heart failure patients without previous RNA extraction neither amplification process. Graphical abstract

Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence for Immunoassay Applications

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) has recently become one of the most prominent and well-established transducers for immunoassay techniques. ECL relates a luminophore concentration in solution with the emission of light triggered by an electrochemical stimulus. ECL immunoassay (ECLIA) performance depends on the parameters of its light generation, including the luminophore, the species that emit light called labels in ECLIA; co-reactants, which are added reagents that support the luminophore to undergo the excited state; electrodes, which are the place for the ECL reactions to take place; and the format of the immunoassay. This review discusses the behaviour of ECLIA parameters, the required instrumentations, and some important examples of detections based on ECLIA.