Pt(Ⅱ) complexes-based hollow nanospheres with aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence as dual-functional nanoaccelerators for ultrasensitive detection of cancer biomarkers in human serum.

BACKGROUND

Platinum (II) complexes with aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIECL) properties exhibit great potential for clinical disease detection. However, it still has great challenge to develop high-performance biosensors that can achieve precise control over their functionalization and ordered supramolecular aggregation.

RESULTS

Herein, we engineered dual-functional nanoaccelerators based on Pt (II) complexes derived hollow nanospheres (Pt-HNSs) for ultrasensitive detection of cancer biomarkers (e.g., alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)), which was self-assembled through synergistic Pt⋯Pt interaction, π-π stacking of terpyridine ligand and phenylboronic acid polarity. The dual-functional nanoaccelerators as efficiency ECL emitters and catalytic accelerators significantly enhanced ECL emissions. By leveraging multivalent binding between surface boronic acid groups and glycosylated residues of AFP, we developed ultrasensitive ECL biosensor that integrated signal recognition with signal amplification. The ECL biosensor exhibited wide linear response range from 10-5 ∼ 102 ng/mL and extremely low detection limit (as low as 7.3 fg/mL).

SIGNIFICANCE: Clinical measurements of serum samples based on dual-functional Pt-HNSs nanoaccelerators had excellent concordance with that based on standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), indicating the reliability of our ECL biosensor for real-world applications. This work provides an innovative strategy for fabricating functionalized nanoaggregates and establishing potential nanobioplatform for monitoring and diagnosing cancer etc. diseases.