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Highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence biosensor for VEGF165 detection based on a g-C3N4/PDDA/CdSe nanocomposite

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Abstract

In this work, an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor was fabricated for the selective detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165). g-C3N4/PDDA/CdSe nanocomposites were used as the ECL substrate. Then, DNA labeled at the 5′ end with amino groups (DNA1) was immobilized on the surface of g-C3N4/PDDA/CdSe nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by amido linkage. AuNP-labeled target DNA (Au-DNA2) could hybridize with DNA1 to form a double strand. The ECL of the g-C3N4/PDDA/CdSe nanocomposite was efficiently quenched due to the resonance energy transfer between CdSe QDs and Au NPs. After VEGF165 was recognized and bound by Au-DNA2, the double helix was disrupted, and the energy transfer was broken. In this case, Au-DNA2 was released from the electrode surface, and the ECL intensity recovered to a higher level. Under optimal conditions, this ECL biosensor possesses excellent selectivity, accuracy, and stability for VEGF165 detection in a linear range of 2 pg mL−1 to 2 ng mL−1 with a detection limit of 0.68 pg mL−1. In addition, this assay has been successfully applied to the determination of VEGF165 in serum samples.

Schematic representation of the electrochemiluminescence sensor based on a g-C3N4/PDDA/CdSe nanocomposite, which can be determined in the concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor in serum.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21575001, 21976001), the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (1508085MB37), and the Open fund for Discipline Construction of Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials (Ministry of Education), Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China

    Jin-long Cheng, Xing-Pei Liu, Jing-Shuai Chen, Chang-jie Mao & Bao-Kang Jin

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  1. Jin-long Cheng
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  2. Xing-Pei Liu
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Correspondence to Chang-jie Mao.

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The protocol of this study was approved by the medical ethics committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. The blood samples (2 mL) of the participants were collected after informed written consent was provided by the subjects.

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Cheng, Jl., Liu, XP., Chen, JS. et al. Highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence biosensor for VEGF165 detection based on a g-C3N4/PDDA/CdSe nanocomposite. Anal Bioanal Chem 412, 3073–3081 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02552-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02552-5

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