A ferrocene-switched electrochemiluminescence “off–on” strategy for the sensitive detection of cardiac troponin I based on target transduction and a DNA walking machine

Abstract

A ferrocene-switched electrochemiluminescence “off–on” sensor is proposed on the basis of target transduction and a DNA walking machine for the sensitive detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The proposed method offers high selectivity with a low detection limit of 0.016 pg mL⁻¹, and provides a universal platform for detecting a wide range of targets, including other proteins and DNAs, by changing the molecular recognition elements to the corresponding antibodies, aptamers or DNA probes.