Distance-dependent plasmon-enhanced electrochemiluminescence biosensor based on MoS₂ nanosheets

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Nonmetallic plasmonic materials offer unique optical properties.
• Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a sensitive detection technique.
• Enhancing ECL signals is crucial for improving sensor performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize nonmetallic plasmonic MoS2 nanosheets.
• To utilize MoS2 nanosheets for enhancing the ECL signal of sulfur-doped boron nitrogen quantum dots (S-BN QDs).
• To develop a sensitive DNA sensor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene detection.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal top-down synthesis of MoS2 nanosheets.
• Investigation of distance-dependent surface plasmon coupling (SPC)-enhanced ECL.
• Construction of a hybridization chain reaction (HCR) amplification ECL sensing mode.

Main Results:

• MoS2 nanosheets exhibited strong SPC light absorption in visible and near-infrared regions.
• Distance-dependent enhancement of ECL signals was observed.
• The developed DNA sensor achieved a wide detection range for HCV gene (0.5 fmol/L to 1 nmol/L) with a low LOD of 0.17 fmol/L.

Conclusions:

• Nonmetallic plasmonic MoS2 nanosheets effectively enhance ECL signals.
• The SPC-ECL strategy combined with HCR amplification provides a sensitive and reliable method for DNA detection.
• This approach holds promise for the development of advanced biosensors.