TY - JOUR
T1 - NH2–Ag@CuNWs with self-catalytically enhanced electrochemiluminescence as a luminophore for the ultrasensitive evaluation of liver cancer markers
AU - Wang, Yuwei
AU - Zhu, Ziyu
AU - Nan, Shan
AU - Hu, Chen
AU - Liang, Axin
AU - Zhang, Jiangjiang
AU - Luo, Aiqin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2026/9/1
Y1 - 2026/9/1
N2 - Exploring novel luminophores and co-reactant accelerators to enhance electrochemiluminescence (ECL) performance represents a cutting-edge academic research. In this study, a new of ECL system based on copper nanowires (CuNWs) was proposed, which successfully achieved enhanced ECL performance of CuNWs. Specifically, NH2–Ag-coated copper nanowires (NH2–Ag@CuNWs) were fabricated as a quasi-three-dimensional luminescent composite that integrated both a luminophore and a co-reactant accelerator, distinguished by a low trigger potential of −0.7 V. The NH2–Ag@CuNWs composite lumophore not only protect the excellent luminescent properties of CuNWs, but also leverages NH2–Ag as an accelerator for the CuNWs/K2S2O8 system, shortening the distance required for redox reaction. The dual catalytic effect of the amino groups and Ag promoted the generation of intermediate free radicals from sulfate anions, accelerating electron transfer kinetics and redox reaction rates, while effectively enhancing and stabilizing the luminescent response. Combining the high affinity and selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), a molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensing (MIECLS) platform was further developed for ultra-sensitive detection of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP). Under optimized experimental conditions, the detection range of the MIECLS was 10 fg mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1, and the limit of detection was 1.10 fg mL−1. This work not only provides a promising strategy for precise detection of AFP in complex matrices, but also proposes new strategies for improving the performance of CuNWs, expanding its applications.
AB - Exploring novel luminophores and co-reactant accelerators to enhance electrochemiluminescence (ECL) performance represents a cutting-edge academic research. In this study, a new of ECL system based on copper nanowires (CuNWs) was proposed, which successfully achieved enhanced ECL performance of CuNWs. Specifically, NH2–Ag-coated copper nanowires (NH2–Ag@CuNWs) were fabricated as a quasi-three-dimensional luminescent composite that integrated both a luminophore and a co-reactant accelerator, distinguished by a low trigger potential of −0.7 V. The NH2–Ag@CuNWs composite lumophore not only protect the excellent luminescent properties of CuNWs, but also leverages NH2–Ag as an accelerator for the CuNWs/K2S2O8 system, shortening the distance required for redox reaction. The dual catalytic effect of the amino groups and Ag promoted the generation of intermediate free radicals from sulfate anions, accelerating electron transfer kinetics and redox reaction rates, while effectively enhancing and stabilizing the luminescent response. Combining the high affinity and selectivity of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), a molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensing (MIECLS) platform was further developed for ultra-sensitive detection of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP). Under optimized experimental conditions, the detection range of the MIECLS was 10 fg mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1, and the limit of detection was 1.10 fg mL−1. This work not only provides a promising strategy for precise detection of AFP in complex matrices, but also proposes new strategies for improving the performance of CuNWs, expanding its applications.
KW - Alpha-fetoprotein
KW - CuNWs
KW - Electrochemiluminescence
KW - Molecularly imprinted polymers
KW - NH–Ag
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105035257748
U2 - 10.1016/j.talanta.2026.129818
DO - 10.1016/j.talanta.2026.129818
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105035257748
SN - 0039-9140
VL - 307
JO - Talanta
JF - Talanta
M1 - 129818
ER -