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Site-selective heat boosting electrochemiluminescence for single cell imaging
Xiaodan Gou1, Yiwen Zhang1,2, Zejing Xing1
1State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China jjzhu@nju.edu.cn.
Chemical Science
|September 1, 2023
Summary
Site-selective heat boosting electrochemiluminescence microscopy enhances luminescence intensity 63-fold. This technique improves visualization of local electrochemical reactions and enables cell-by-cell analysis of membrane proteins.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Microscopy
Background:
- In operando visualization of electrochemical reactions offers mechanical insights into interfacial charge and reactant/product transport.
- Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) quantifies Faraday current and mass transport but suffers from low sensitivity due to radical collision efficiency and side reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a site-selective heat boosting electrochemiluminescence microscopy technique.
- To overcome the sensitivity limitations of traditional ECL methods.
Main Methods:
- Generating a micron-scale heat point in situ at the electrode-solution interface.
- Utilizing a photothermal effect to accelerate reaction rates and induce thermal convection.
- Employing finite element simulation to understand the underlying mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 63-fold enhancement in luminescence intensity.
- Advanced the applied voltage by 0.2 V.
- Boosted the contrast of single cells by 20.54 times.
- Enabled site-selective, cell-by-cell analysis of heterogeneous membrane protein abundance.
Conclusions:
- The photothermal effect is the fundamental reason for accelerated reaction rates and thermal convection.
- This method significantly enhances sensitivity and selectivity for local electron transfer events.
- The technique holds great potential for analyzing local electrochemical reactions and biological samples.
