Determination of Trace Phosphoprotein in Food Based on Fluorescent Probe-Triggered Target-Induced Quench by Electrochemiluminescence

Abstract

Evaluation of the nutrition and determination of phosphoproteins is of great importance in different foods as aberrant phosphorylation changes many biological processes and can relate to health conditions. In this study, an ultrafast (5 min) and sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was innovatively fabricated for the determination of phosphoproteins in foods on the basis of fluorescent probe NH 2 -TiO 2 /upconversion nanomaterials (UCNPs). Impressively, the ECL intensity of NH 2 -TiO 2 / UCNPs-rGO/GCE was remarkably enhanced by 29 times. Furthermore, the photoactive NH 2 -TiO 2 layer provided not only specific selectivity but also a large surface area as well as an unprecedented photocatalytic activity for the NH 2 -TiO 2 /UCNPs-rGO/GCE ECL sensor (TIECLS), which could serve as an identification element for trace phosphoproteins. Under optimal conditions, the TIECLS achieved a relatively low detection limit of 9.2 × 10 −5 mg/mL (S/N = 3). Practical application of this TIECLS was carried out in different food samples with satisfying results, which were validated by laser desorption ionization−time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

Homogeneous Electrochemiluminescence in the Sensors Game: What Have We Learned from Past Experiments?

“…They used reduced graphene oxide as the ECL enhancing agent to raise the ECL efficiency of the upconversion NH 2 −TiO 2 nanostructures up to 29 times. 46 Electrode Modifiers. The modification of the working electrode surface is of great significance to design new and more efficient ECL platforms for various analytes.…”

“…For instance, Guo et al synthesized an upconversion nanomaterial ECL system on the basis of amino-functionalized NH 2 –TiO 2 nanostructures. They used reduced graphene oxide as the ECL enhancing agent to raise the ECL efficiency of the upconversion NH 2 –TiO 2 nanostructures up to 29 times …”

Supersensitive detection of lincomycin with an ECL aptasensor based on the synergistic integration of gold-functionalized upconversion nanoparticles and thiolated 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid

“…Compared to the conventional luminophores, e.g. Ru (bpy) 3 2+ , luminol, or quantum dots, the newly explored luminophores of rare earth upconversion luminescent nanoparticles (UCNPs) have many advantages of good biocompatibility, weak fluorescence background, and a large Stokes shift, [18][19][20] which makes them a promising sensor application material. Owing to their excellent chemical and optical stability, the UCNPs have widely been applied in biological imaging, clinical medicine, and analysis fields.…”

Electrochemiluminescence of Carbon‐based Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Mechanism and Application in Heavy Metal Ions Detection

“…Due to their high sensitivity, low associated cost, and simple operation process, ECL techniques have been widely applied in cancer diagnosis, environmental analysis, food and water investigation [2][3][4][5]. At present, a variety of ECL emitters such as transition metal complexes, organic molecules, metal nanoclusters and quantum dots have been developed and applied [6]. Among these ECL luminophores, quantum dots have aroused broad attention due to their unique features, including easy labelling and excellent ECL activities [7].…”