Enhanced electrochemiluminescence imaging of single cell membrane proteins based on Co₃O₄ nanozyme catalysis

The development of enhanced strategies with excellent biocompatibility is critical for electrochemiluminescence (ECL) imaging of single cells. Here, we report an ECL imaging technique for a single cell membrane protein based on a Co₃O₄ nanozyme catalytic enhancement strategy. Due to the remarkable catalytic performance of Co₃O₄ nanozymes, H₂O₂ can be efficiently decomposed into reactive oxygen radicals, and the reaction with L012 was enhanced, resulting in stronger ECL emission. The anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was coupled with nanozyme particles to construct a probe that specifically recognized the overexpressed CEA on the MCF-7 cell membrane. According to the locally enhanced visualized luminescence, the rapid ECL imaging of a single cell membrane protein was eventually realized. Accordingly, Co₃O₄ nanozymes with highly efficient activity will provide new insights into ECL imaging analysis of more biological small molecules and proteins.