A powerful, yet low-cost and semi-portable electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensing device is described. It is constructed around a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, which serves as the controller and user interface. The Pi is interfaced with an expansion board that controls the potential applied to a disposable screen-printed electrode and facilitates data acquisition from a photomultiplier tube (PMT), which detects the ECL emission from the sensor surface. As proof-of-concept, we demonstrate that this arrangement can quantitate tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺]) with an estimated limit of detection (LOD) of 20 pM, and C-reactive protein with an LOD of 50 fg mL⁻¹. The analytical performance of the Raspberry Pi-based setup is comparable to a conventional ECL configuration (computer, potentiostat and photodetector). The Raspberry Pi-based setup can replace a conventional ECL setup, at a fraction of the cost, without sacrificing sensitivity or versatility. The combination of a single-board computer and a sensitive light detector represents a significant step towards translating ECL instruments into mobile, point-of-care diagnostic platforms.

描述了一种功能强大但成本低廉的半便携式电化学发光 (ECL) 生物传感装置。它围绕用作控制器和用户界面的 Raspberry Pi 单板计算机构建。Pi 与扩展板连接，该扩展板控制施加到一次性丝网印刷电极的电位，并有助于从光电倍增管 (PMT) 获取数据，该光电倍增管检测传感器表面的 ECL 发射。作为概念验证，我们证明这种安排可以定量三（2,2'-联吡啶）钌（II）（[Ru(bpy) ₃ ] ²⁺ ]），估计检测限 (LOD) 为 20 pM 和 C 反应蛋白，LOD 为 50 fg mL ^-1. 基于 Raspberry Pi 的设置的分析性能可与传统的 ECL 配置（计算机、恒电位仪和光电探测器）相媲美。基于 Raspberry Pi 的设置可以以一小部分成本替代传统的 ECL 设置，而不会牺牲灵敏度或多功能性。单板计算机和灵敏的光检测器的结合代表了将 ECL 仪器转化为移动的即时诊断平台的重要一步。