Self-enhanced bipolar electrochemiluminescence immunosensor using MXene and Ce-MOF for the detection of cardiac troponin I.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is widely recognized as a critical biomarker for the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Consequently, the precise and sensitive detection of cTnI during the initial phases of AMI is vital. In this study, we propose the development of an advanced bipolar electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based miniaturized, cost-effective, and optimized biosensor incorporating novel nanostructures such as MXene (Ti₃C₂Tx-TiO2) and Ce-MOF without using luminol's co-reactant (H2O2). The conjugation of Ce-MOF with MXene enhances ECL intensity due to increase in surface area and electron conductivity, respectively. Using a camera as the detection device, cTnI can be quantified within a wide range of 0.01 to 100 ng/mL. The proposed approach integrates principles of biotechnology and nanotechnology, enabling rapid and accurate quantification of this biomarker even at low concentrations and can be used for clinical diagnostics.