Related Experiment Video For Apoptosis
Updated: Sep 30, 2026

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila
Published on: November 27, 2016
Disposable biosensor based on novel ternary Ru-PEI@PCN-333(Al) self-enhanced electrochemiluminescence system for
Weiwei Luo1, Hongyu Chu2, Xinzhao Wu3
1College of Chemistry, Jilin Province Research Center for Engineering and Technology of Spectral Analytical Instruments, Jilin University, Qianjin Street 2699, Changchun, 130012, China; School of Chemistry and Life Science, Anshan Normal University, Ping'an Street 43, Anshan, 114005, China.
Abstract:
The number of death due to cancer-related diseases each year is at the alarming level and is constantly growing. Tools that can effectively and conveniently detect cancer cell apoptosis can play a significant role in cancer research, cancer therapy, and other related industries. Herein, we fabricated, for the first time, an ultrasensitive, disposable, self-enhanced off-on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on ternary Ru-PEI@PCN-333(Al) system to determine caspase-3 activity, the biomarker of apoptosis. The biosensor had a low detection limit of 0.017 pg/mL and was able to enhance the ECL emission and stability. A solid-state (SS) ECL strategy was adopted to overcome the relatively weak ECL emission due to the long distance between electrochemiluminophore and electrode surface. The analysis requires only one incubation step, which can significantly reduce the operational complexity and time. The biosensor had higher sensitivity, and the off-on ECL mode was achieved using caspase-3 as a switch. The on-site and rapid detection capability of the biosensor was achieved by the introduction of disposable screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). This study lays a foundation for the development of more advanced, ingenious, portable and reliable ECL devices for biosensing not only caspase-3, but also other bioanalytes.

