Mobile phone-based electrochemiluminescence sensing exploiting the 'USB On-The-Go' protocol

A low-cost system to generate, control and detect electrochemiluminescence using a mobile smartphone is described. A simple tone-detection integrated circuit is used to switch power sourced from the phone's Universal Serial Bus (USB) 'On-The-Go' (OTG) port, using audible tone pulses played over the device's audio jack. We have successfully applied this approach to smartphones from different manufacturers and with different operating system versions. ECL calibrations of a common luminophore, tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)3]²⁺), with 2-(dibutylamino)ethanol (DBAE) as a co-reactant, showed no significant difference in light intensities when an electrochemical cell was controlled by a mobile phone in this manner, compared to the same calibration generated using a conventional potentiostat. Combining this novel approach to control the applied potential with the measurement of the emitted light through the smart phone camera (using an in-house built Android app), we explored the ECL properties of a water-soluble iridium(III) complex that emits in the blue region of the spectrum. The iridium(III) complex exhibited superior co-reactant ECL intensities and limits of detection to that of the conventional [Ru(bpy)3]²⁺ luminophore.

New materials for electrochemiluminescence

The study of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) involves photophysical and electrochemical aspects. Excited states are populated by an electrical stimulus. The most important applications are in the diagnostic field where a number of different biologically-relevant molecules (e.g. proteins and nucleic acids) can be recognized and quantified with a sensitivity and specificity previously not reachable. As a matter of fact the electrochemistry, differently to the classic techniques as fluorescence and chemiluminescence, allows to control the excited state generation spatially and temporally. The two research visits into A. J. Bard electrochemistry laboratories were priceless. Dr. Bard has been one of ECL pioneers, the first to introduce the technique and the one who discovered in 1972 the surprising emission of Ru(bpy)3 2+. I consider necessary to thank by now my supervisors Massimo and Francesco for their help and for giving me the great opportunity to know this unique science man that made me feel enthusiastic. I will never be grateful enough… Considering that the experimental techniques of ECL did not changed significantly in these last years the most convenient research direction has been the developing of materials with new or improved properties. In Chapter I the basics concepts and mechanisms of ECL are introduced so that the successive experiments can be easily understood. In the final paragraph the scopes of the thesis are briefly described. In Chapter II by starting from ECL experimental apparatus of Dr. Bard’s laboratories the design, assembly and preliminary tests of the new Bologna instrument are carefully described. The instrument assembly required to work hard but resulted in the introduction of the new technique in our labs by allowing the continuation of the ECL studies began in Texas. In Chapter III are described the results of electrochemical and ECL studies performed on new synthesized Ru(II) complexes containing tetrazolate based ligands. ECL emission has been investigated in solution and in solid thin films. The effect of the chemical protonation of the tetrazolate ring on ECL emission has been also investigated evidencing the possibility of a catalytic effect (generation of molecular hydrogen) of one of the complexes in organic media. Finally, after a series of preliminary studies on ECL emission in acqueous buffers, the direct interaction with calf thymus DNA of some complexes has been tested by ECL and photoluminescence (PL) titration. In Chapter IV different Ir(III) complexes have been characterized electrochemically and photophysically (ECL and PL). Some complexes were already well-known in literature for their high quantum efficiency whereas the remaining were new synthesized compounds containing tetrazolate based ligands analogous to those investigated in Chapt. III. During the tests on a halogenated complex was unexpectedly evidenced the possibility to follow the kinetics of an electro-induced chemical reaction by using ECL signal. In the last chapter (V) the possibility to use mono-use silicon chips electrodes as ECL analitycal devices is under investigation. The chapter begins by describing the chip structure and materials then a signal reproducibility study and geometry optimization is carried on by using two different complexes. In the following paragraphs is reported in detail the synthesis of an ECL label based on Ru(bpy)3 2+ and the chip functionalization by using a lipoic acid SAM and the same label. After some preliminary characterizations (mass spectroscopy TOF) has been demonstrated that by mean of a simple and fast ECL measurement it’s possible to confirm the presence of the coupling product SAM-label into the chip with a very high sensitivity. No signal was detected from the same system by using photoluminescence.

电化学发光方法及其应用的研究

本文简要评述了电化学发光的发展过程及研究现状，介绍了关于电化学发光的一些基本理论。采用电化学、光谱等方法对电化学发光方法及其应用进行了研究。主要结果如下：1．利用聚苯乙烯磺酸钠（PSS）和硅溶胶制备的复合物膜固定发光试剂吡啶钌。将吡啶钌固定化后不仅可以减少试剂的消耗，而且还可以简化实验装置。以吡啶钌／三丙胺体系研究了固定在PSS一二氧化硅复合物膜中吡啶钌的循环伏安及电化学发光行为。固定的毗咤钉的电化学及电化学发光行为均受到膜中PSS含量的强烈影响。另外，PSS可大大提高电化学发光强度。将吡陡钉修饰电极在流动注射分析体系中用于草酸、三丙胺和NADH的检测，具有高的灵敏度，快速的响应以及良好的稳定性。2．利用苯磺酸重氮盐的电化学还原和静电吸附作用，在苯磺酸修饰玻碳电极上形成毗咤钉单层膜。此单层膜进行可逆的表面反应，并与三丙胺反应产生电化学发光。考虑到电极的稳定性，电化学发光是源自固定的毗咤钉，而不是脱附的毗咤钉。检测三丙胺线性范围从5μmol／L到1mmol／L，检测限为1μmol／L（S/N=4）。另外，苯磺酸单层膜可作为优良的基底用于吡啶钌多层膜的制备。3．将吡啶钌固定到玻碳电极上的Eastman-AQ55D-二氧化硅复合物膜中，研制了一种具有长期稳定性和快速响应的电化学发光传感器。并研究了固定在复合物膜中的吡啶钌的电化学和电化学发光性质。以此修饰电极在流动注射分析体系中检测了草酸、三丙胺和氯丙嗦，具有高的灵敏度。由于强烈的静电相互作用和Eastman-AQ55D低疏水性，传感器在干燥状态下放置两个月，没有观察到明显的响应降低。对电极进行100次电位扫描后，电流响应只降低5％。4．利用碳糊电极这种最简单的有机溶剂修饰电极，成功地实现了邻菲咯琳钉／过硫酸根体系在水溶液中的电化学发光。只有当电位足够负时，才能观察到由电生的Ru（Phen）3＋与强氧化性中间体S。＃''反应产生的电化学发光。与Ru（bpy）S2＋O82-扩一电化学发光相比，Ru（phen）32＋／S2O82-电化学发光在水溶液中更稳定，并且它不受碳糊电极存放的影响。检测S2O82-线性范围从5 * 10-6mol／L到2*10-3mol／L。S2O82-浓度高于20mmol／L时，电化学发光强度急剧下降。5，研制了一种微型光纤电化学发光检测器，其结构简单，所需样品体积小，而且发光效率高。将透光的金网固定到光纤末端表面作为工住电极，参比电极和对电极固定到光纤侧端，从而形成自包含的三电极体系。使用网栅电极可以增大电极面积，提高光收集效率。对电极与光纤末端共同形成了一个微型反应池，避免了额外添加样品池，并允许进行微量（体积约10 μL）电化学发光检测。检测草酸和氯丙嚓，线性范围分别为1*10-6mol／L-1*10-3mol／L和5*10-6mol／L-5*10-4mol／L，检测限分别为5*10-7mol／L和1*10-6mol／L（S／N＝3）。

ITO导电玻璃和PDMS微芯片毛细管电泳电化学发光检测的研究

微全分析系统是目前很前沿的研究领域，尽管现在还没有真正意义的微全分析系统出现，但它代表了分析科学的发展趋势。本文主要研究了ITO导电玻璃和PDMS微芯片毛细管电泳和电化学发光检测方法。微芯片毛细管电泳对与其联用的检测器有相当高的要求，一些传统的检测方法很难适应于微芯片毛细管电泳。电化学发光检测是一种新兴的检测技术，在化学、生物、医学诊断以及免疫分析中展现出良好的应用前景。如何实现和完善微芯片毛细管电泳与电化学发光检测联用技术是本论文的重点。我们采用聚二甲基硅氧烷（poly（dimethylsiloxone），简称PDMS）和玻璃作为芯片材料，以锢锡氧化物（indium桩n oXide，简称工T0）导电玻璃为工作电极设计了一种集成化的微芯片毛细管电泳电化学发光检测器。其中，芯片的底片由工TO导电玻璃经光刻、化学腐蚀等方法处理后得到。ITO是一种透明的导电材料，作为工作电极集成到芯片的底片上，PDMS层与芯片底片采用可逆键合的方式键合，大大简化了操作并提高了电化学发光信号的采集效率。我们采用脯氨酸作为被测物对检测器进行了表征。在实验过程中，微芯片毛细管电泳及工T0工作电极都表现出良好的稳定性。我们还提出了电化学和电化学发光同时检测技术，应用于微芯片毛细管电泳和常规毛细管电泳。在这种电化学和电化学发光双检测模式中，三联吡陡钉（Ru（bpy）32+既作为电化学发光检测所需的发光试剂与被分析物反应生成激发态的Ru（bpy）32+＊产生电化学发光信号，又在电极表面平行催化电化学反应得到增强的电流响应，提高电化学检测的灵敏度。电化学信号与电化学发光信号同时产生并分别记录，从而实现了电化学和电化学发光同时检测。我们将这种检测技术与芯片或常规毛细管电泳结合，以多巴胺及三种药物分子山蓖若碱、氧氟沙星和利多卡因作为被测物对其进行了表征。这种同时检测方法与其它多检测模式相比更为简单、方便，比单一的电化学或电化学发光检测可以获得更多的被分析物信息，扩大单一检测方式的应用范围。

Metal nanomaterials and carbon nanotubes - synthesis, functionalization and potential applications towards electrochemistry

This review focuses on the synthesis, assembly, surface functionalization, as well as application of inorganic nanostructures. Electrochemical and wet- chemical methods are demonstrated to be effective approaches to make metal nanostructures under control without addition of a reducing agent or protecting agent. Owing to the unique physical and chemical properties of the nano-sized materials, novel applications are introduced using inorganic nanomaterials, such as electrocatalysis, photoelectricity, spectrochemistry, and analytical chemistry.

Layer-by-layer assembly of functional silica and Au nanoparticles for fabricating electrogenerated chemiluminescence sensor

We described the use of silica nanoparticles as building blocks for the immobilization of electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) reagent Ru(bpy)3" and the fabrication of layer-by-layer assembly film by alternating the deposition of the Ru(bpy)3 2'-doped silica nanoparticles and Au nanoparticles.

[Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)-doped silica nanoparticles within layer-by-layer biomolecular coatings and their application as a biocompatible electrochemiluminescent tag material

[Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)-doped silica (RuSi) nanoparticles were synthesized by using a water/oil microemulsion method. Stable electrochemiluminescence (ECL) was obtained when the RuSi nanoparticles were immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode by using tripropylamine (TPA) as a coreactant. Furthermore, the ECL of the RuSi nanoparticles with layer-by-layer biomolecular coatings was investigated. Squential self-assembly of the polyelectrolytes and biomolecules on the RuSi nanoparticles gave nanocomposite suspensions, the ECL of which decreased on increasing the number of bilayers.

CEC with tris(2,2 '-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescent detection

For the first time, CEC was coupled with tris(2,2-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) electrochemiluminescence detection. Efficient CEC separations of proline, putrescine, spermidine and spermine were achieved when the pH of the mobile phase is in the range of 3.5-7.0. The optimum mobile phase for CEC separation is much less acidic than that for CZE separation, which matches better with the optimum pH for Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) electrochemiluminescence detection and dramatically shortens the analysis time because of larger EOF at higher pH.

Progress in Ru (bpy)(3)(2+) Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence

Among various ECL systems, such as 9,10-diphenylanthracene, lucigenin, tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium, peroxyoxalate, luminol, graphene, and nanocrystals, Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL is one of the most widely studied ECL systems in recent years due to its broad applications in immunoassays, DNA probe assays, coreactants analysis, and aptasensors. In this review, the progress in Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL has been summarized on the whole, and the future research trends have been proposed.

Enantioseparation of Dioxopromethazine Hydrochloride in Urine with Liquid-Liquid Extraction by CE-ECL Detection

Capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrochemiluminescence detection was developed for the separation and determination of dioxopromethazine hydrochloride (DPZ) enantiomers. Performance parameters of the proposed method were evaluated. An improved separation of DPZ enantiomers could be achieved after adding boric acid to buffer. The enantiomers were completely separated with running buffer of 16.5 mM beta-CD in 25 mM tris-H3PO4-40 mM H3BO3 at pH 2.5. The proposed method was successfully applied to the separation and determination of DPZ enantiomers in human urine with a liquid-liquid extraction procedure.

Surface modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchips using a double-chained cationic surfactant for efficiently resolving fluorescent dye adsorption

This paper described a double-chained cationic surfactant, didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB). for dynamic surface modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchips to reduce the fluorescent dyes adsorption onto the microchannel. When DDAB with a high concentration was present as the dynamic modification reagent in the running and sample buffer, it not only reversed the direction of electroosmotic flow, but also efficiently suppressed fluorescent dyes pyronine Y (PY) or rhodamine 8 (RB) adsorption onto the chip surface. In addition, vesicles formed by DDAB in the buffer with higher surface charge density and electrophoretic mobility could provide wider migration window and potential for the separation of compounds with similar hydrophobicity. Factors affecting modification, such as pH and concentrations of the buffer, DDAB concentration in the buffer were investigated. Compared with commonly used single-chained cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, DDAB provided a better modification performance.

[Ru(bpy)(2)(dcbpy)NHS] Labeling/Aptamer-Based Biosensor for the Detection of Lysozyme by Increasing Sensitivity with Gold Nanoparticle Amplification

A novel [Ru(bpy)(2) (dcbpy)NHS] labeling/aptamer-based biosensor combined with gold nanoparticle amplification for the determination of lysozyme with an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method is presented. In this work, an aptamer, an ECL probe, gold nanoparticle amplification, and competition assay are the main protocols employed in ECL detection. With all the protocols used, an original biosensor coupled with an aptamer and [Ru(bpy)(2)(dcbpy)NHS] has been prepared. Its high selectivity and sensitivity are the main advantages over other traditional [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) biosensors. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization illustrate that this biosensor is fabricated successfully. Finally, the biosensor was applied to a displacement assay in different concentrations of lysozyme solution, and an ultrasensitive ECL signal was obtained. The ECL intensity decreased proportionally to the lysozyme concentration over the range 1.0 x 10-(13)-1.0 x 10(-8) mol L-1 with a detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-13) mol L-1.

High-density gold nanoparticles supported on a [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)-doped silica/Fe3O4 nanocomposite: Facile preparation, magnetically induced immobilization, and applications in ECL detection

A large-scale process combined sonication with self-assembly techniques for the preparation of high-density gold nanoparticles supported on a [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)-doped silica/Fe3O4 nanocomposite (GNRSF) is provided. The obtained hybrid nanomaterials containing Fe3O4 spheres have high saturation magnetization, which leads to their effective immobilization on the surface of an ITO electrode through simple manipulation by an external magnetic field (without the need of a special immobilization apparatus). Furthermore, this hybrid nanomaterial film exhibits a good and very stable electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behavior, which gives a linear response for tripropylamine (TPA) concentrations between 5 mu m and 0.21 mM, with a detection limit in the micromolar range. The sensitivity of this ECL sensor can be easily controlled by the amount of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) immobilized on the hybrid nanomaterials (that is, varying the amount of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) during GNRSF synthesis).

Ionic liquids as selectors for the enhanced detection of proteins

Herein, we report an approach for protein detection enhanced by ionic liquid (IL) selectors in capillary electrophoresis (CE), with avidin as a model protein. Hydrophilic ILs were added into the running buffer of CE and acted as selectors for sample injection, enriching the positive target and excluding the negative from the capillary. When using 3% (v/v) IL selector, the detection sensitivity of avidin was improved by over one order of magnitude, while the interference from protein adsorption was effectively avoided, even in an uncoated capillary. The electrochemiluminescence method was initially used for IL-based CE with low noise that was independent of the IL concentration, making ILs almost transparent as additives in the electrophoresis buffer.