Enhanced electrochemiluminescence sensing of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) using copper nanocluster and...

Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a small peptide that plays a key role as a biomarker for heart failure (HF). Because of its low blood concentration and short half-life, detecting BNP with high sensitivity is challenging, making it difficult to diagnose patients in the early stages of HF. The development of immunoassays can effectively detect BNP which is essential for the quick diagnosis of heart failure. In this perspective, we have developed an electrochemiluminescence platform for the sensing of BNP by using BSA capped copper nanoclusters (BSA-CuNCs) as the site for the conjugation of antibody and luminol and H₂O₂ as the electrochemiluminescent luminophore and coreactant. We have employed a two electrode ECL system for the immunoassay of BNP and the immunosensor shows strong and stable signal. The antibody BNP was immobilized on the surface of BSA-CuNCs and upon the addition of antigen the ECL intensity get decreased. The immunosensor sensor shows a detection limit of 2.37 pg/mL with high stability and selectivity. Due to the straightforward and rapid analysis, along with high sensitivity and selectivity and obtained a recovery percentage of 85 %-114 %. In contrast to the label-based ECL immunoassay, the developed label-free immunosensor is significantly simpler and more time-efficient.