Ultrasensitive Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor Based on Efficient Signal Amplification of Copper Nanoclusters Induced by CaMnO₃ for CD44 Trace Detection

Abstract

Metal nanoclusters (Me NCs) have become a research hotspot in the field of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing analysis. This is primarily attributed to their excellent luminescent properties and biocompatibility along with their easy synthesis and labeling characteristics. At present, the application of Me NCs in ECL mainly focuses on precious metals, whose high cost, to some extent, limits their widespread application. In this work, Cu NCs with cathode ECL emissions in persulfate (S₂O₈^2-) were prepared as signal probes using glutathione as ligands, which exhibited stable luminescence signals and high ECL efficiency. At the same time, CaMnO₃ was introduced as a co-reaction promoter to increase the ECL responses of Cu NCs, thereby further expanding their application potential in biochemical analysis. Specifically, the reversible conversion of Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ greatly promoted the generation of sulfate radicals (SO₄^•-), providing a guarantee for improving the luminescence signals of Cu NCs. Furthermore, a short peptide (NARKFYKGC) was introduced to enable the fixation of antibodies to specific targets, preventing the occupancy of antigen-binding sites (Fab fragments). Therefore, the sensitivity of the biosensor could be significantly enhanced by releasing additional Fab fragments. Considering the approaches discussed above, the constructed biosensor could achieve sensitive detection of CD44 over a broad range (10 fg/mL-100 ng/mL), with an ultralow detection limit of 3.55 fg/mL (S/N = 3), which had valuable implications for the application of nonprecious Me NCs in biosensing analysis.