An electrochemiluminescence immunosensor for myoglobin using an indium tin oxide glass electrode modified with gold nanoparticles and platinum nanowires

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was fabricated to detect myoglobin in human serum. Specifically, gold nanoparticles and platinum nanowires were deposited onto indium tin oxide-coated glass with 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane as the linker to fabricate a basal electrode. The gold nanoparticles had a diameter of approximately 5 nm, and the platinum nanowires had diameters of approximately 2-3 nm and lengths on the order of dozens of nanometers. The nanomaterials effectively enhanced the ECL of luminol and enabled it to emit strong light, even in a weakly basic environment. A myoglobin antibody was then covalently immobilized on the electrode. Upon formation of the immunocomplex, the intensity of the luminol ECL was reduced. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the intensity of the ECL linearly decreased with the logarithm of the myoglobin concentration over the range of 3.0 ng·mL^-1 to 0.32 μg·mL^-1, and the detection limit was 0.11 ng·mL^-1. Graphical abstract Schematic of an electrochemiluminescent immunosensor for myoglobin using gold nanoparticles and platinum nanowires as supporting matrix on indium tin oxide coated glass. It can detect myoglobin in human serum with a detection limit of 0.11 ng·mL^-1 and high selectivity.