Micelle-Confined Co-N Coordination Enables Size-Tailored Nanoemitters for High-Performance ECL Biosensing

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) offers ultrasensitive biomarker detection with low background signals.
• Developing novel nanomaterials is crucial for enhancing ECL performance and biosensing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer size-tailored Cobalt-Nitrogen (Co-N) nanoemitters using micelle-confined coordination for improved ECL.
• To develop a highly sensitive and selective biosensor for N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) detection.

Main Methods:

• Micelle-confined coordination engineering using quaternary ammonium surfactants (C12-C16) to create benzimidazole (BIM)-dominated micelles.
• Construction of Co-N nanoemitters (CoBIM/TTAB) with tailored dimensions (9-23 nm) for optimal spatial confinement.
• Development of a "signal-on" biosensor utilizing electrostatic DNA assembly for NT-proBNP detection.

Main Results:

• Optimized CoBIM/TTAB nanoemitters (∼10-20 nm) demonstrated enhanced ECL performance due to improved mass and electron transfer.
• The biosensor achieved highly selective NT-proBNP detection with a broad dynamic range (0.1 pg mL⁻¹ to 10 ng mL⁻¹) and a low limit of detection (0.03 pg mL⁻¹).
• The platform shows significant promise for early heart failure diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Micelle-confined coordination engineering is an effective strategy for creating advanced Co-N nanoemitters with superior ECL properties.
• The developed biosensor platform offers a promising tool for the early and accurate diagnosis of heart failure.
• This work provides insights for designing next-generation electroactive nanomaterials for sensitive bioassays.