Electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer between a Ru-ZnMOF self-enhanced luminophore and a double quencher ZnONF@PDA to detect NSE

Abstract

The construction of advanced systems capable of accurately detecting neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is essential for rapidly diagnosing small-cell lung cancer. In this study, an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) resonance energy transfer immunosensor was proposed for the ultra-sensitive detection of NSE. The co-reactants C₂O₄²⁻ and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ were integrated to form a self-enhanced ECL luminophore (Ru-ZnMOF) as the ECL donor. The abundant carboxyl functional groups of Ru-ZnMOF supported antibody 1 via an amidation reaction. Polydopamine-modified zinc dioxide nanoflowers, as ECL acceptors, inhibited Ru-ZnMOF ECL signaling. The linear range of NSE was 10 fg mL⁻¹ to 100 ng mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 3.3 fg mL⁻¹ (S/N = 3), which is suitably low for determining NSE in real samples.