An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor was prepared to detect Pb2+ with nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) as ECL materials. To prepare the working electrode, NCQDs with carboxyl groups were loaded on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and then Pb2+ aptamers were covalently bound to the NCQDs to form a stable GCE/NCQDs/aptamers. On addition of Pb2+, the chain aptamers change to a pb2+ G-quadruplex conformation, which lead to a large decrease in the ECL intensity. The variation of intensity and the logarithm of the Pb2+ concentration had a good linear relationship (R2 = 0.998). The detection range was wide (50 pM to 387.9 nM) with a low detection limit (18.9 pM). In interference experiments, the ECL Pb2+ aptasensor did not suffer from interference and it had good stability. The NCQDs ECL aptasensor can detect Pb2+ quickly and accurately, and provides a fast and efficient method for detection of Pb2+. Compared with literatures, the Pb2+ aptasensor has simpler preparation process, lower cost; furthermore, it is more environmentally friendly.
Keywords: Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dot; Pb2+; aptamer; aptasensor; electrochemiluminescence.