Electrochemiluminescence Bioassays with a Water-Soluble Luminol Derivative Can Outperform Fluorescence Assays

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2018 Jan 8;57(2):408-411. doi: 10.1002/anie.201708630. Epub 2017 Dec 5.

Abstract

The most efficient and commonly used electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitters are luminol, [Ru(bpy)3 ]2+ , and derivatives thereof. Luminol stands out due to its low excitation potential, but applications are limited by its insolubility under physiological conditions. The water-soluble m-carboxy luminol was synthesized in 15 % yield and exhibited high solubility under physiological conditions and afforded a four-fold ECL signal increase (vs. luminol). Entrapment in DNA-tagged liposomes enabled a DNA assay with a detection limit of 3.2 pmol L-1 , which is 150 times lower than the corresponding fluorescence approach. This remarkable sensitivity gain and the low excitation potential establish m-carboxy luminol as a superior ECL probe with direct relevance to chemiluminescence and enzymatic bioanalytical approaches.

Keywords: biosensors; electrochemiluminescence; liposomes; luminescence; luminol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods*
  • Fluorescence
  • Limit of Detection
  • Liposomes
  • Luminescence
  • Luminol / chemistry*
  • Solubility
  • Water

Substances

  • Liposomes
  • Water
  • Luminol