Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a powerful transduction technique that has rapidly gained importance as a powerful analytical technique. Since ECL is a surface-confined process, a comprehensive understanding of the generation of ECL signal at a nanometric distance from the electrode could lead to several highly promising applications. In this work, we explored the mechanism underlying ECL signal generation on the nanoscale using luminophore-reporter-modified DNA-based nanoswitches (i.e., molecular beacon) with different stem stabilities. ECL is generated according to the "oxidative-reduction"strategy using tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as a coreactant and Ru(bpy)32+ as a luminophore. Our findings suggest that by tuning the stem stability of DNA nanoswitches we can activate different ECL mechanisms (direct and remote) and, under specific conditions, a "digital-like"association curve, i.e., with an extremely steep transition after the addition of increasing concentrations of DNA target, a large signal variation, and low preliminary analytical performance (LOD 22 nM for 1GC DNA-nanoswtich and 16 nM for 5GC DNA-nanoswitch). In particular, we were able to achieve higher signal gain (i.e., 10 times) with respect to the standard "signal-off"electrochemical readout. We demonstrated the copresence of two different ECL generation mechanisms on the nanoscale that open the way for the design of customized DNA devices for highly efficient dual-signal-output ratiometric-like ECL systems.

Zanut A., Rossetti M., Marcaccio M., Ricci F., Paolucci F., Porchetta A., et al. (2021). DNA-Based Nanoswitches: Insights into Electrochemiluminescence Signal Enhancement. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, 93(30), 10397-10402 [10.1021/acs.analchem.1c01683].

DNA-Based Nanoswitches: Insights into Electrochemiluminescence Signal Enhancement

Zanut A.
Primo
;
Marcaccio M.;Paolucci F.;Valenti G.
2021

Abstract

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a powerful transduction technique that has rapidly gained importance as a powerful analytical technique. Since ECL is a surface-confined process, a comprehensive understanding of the generation of ECL signal at a nanometric distance from the electrode could lead to several highly promising applications. In this work, we explored the mechanism underlying ECL signal generation on the nanoscale using luminophore-reporter-modified DNA-based nanoswitches (i.e., molecular beacon) with different stem stabilities. ECL is generated according to the "oxidative-reduction"strategy using tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as a coreactant and Ru(bpy)32+ as a luminophore. Our findings suggest that by tuning the stem stability of DNA nanoswitches we can activate different ECL mechanisms (direct and remote) and, under specific conditions, a "digital-like"association curve, i.e., with an extremely steep transition after the addition of increasing concentrations of DNA target, a large signal variation, and low preliminary analytical performance (LOD 22 nM for 1GC DNA-nanoswtich and 16 nM for 5GC DNA-nanoswitch). In particular, we were able to achieve higher signal gain (i.e., 10 times) with respect to the standard "signal-off"electrochemical readout. We demonstrated the copresence of two different ECL generation mechanisms on the nanoscale that open the way for the design of customized DNA devices for highly efficient dual-signal-output ratiometric-like ECL systems.
2021
Zanut A., Rossetti M., Marcaccio M., Ricci F., Paolucci F., Porchetta A., et al. (2021). DNA-Based Nanoswitches: Insights into Electrochemiluminescence Signal Enhancement. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, 93(30), 10397-10402 [10.1021/acs.analchem.1c01683].
Zanut A.; Rossetti M.; Marcaccio M.; Ricci F.; Paolucci F.; Porchetta A.; Valenti G.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/850129
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