Porphyrin Trio−Pendant fullerene guest as an In situ universal probe of high ECL efficiency for sensitive miRNA detection

In this work, pyrrolidyl C60 derivative was recruited as an unadulterated and congruent nano-hub to converge three zinc porphyrins on its monopole. Such peculiar assembly was convinced via micro-imaging and spectrophotometry. Making the best of fullerenyl proficiency in catalytic singlet O2 generation and excited-state preservation, a multiplied electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emission bursted out from the porphyrin trinity in a synergistic manner. Without any prebio-conjugation, this orderly ECL-active individual turned to anchor in the toroid of a peripherally modified gamma-cyclodextrin in a good shape match. From the facile direct mounting of the latter derives a universal bio-probing technique based upon such host-guest inclusion. Its binding pattern and the concomitant effects on interfacial properties were revealed by systematic process characterizations. Taking advantages of this uniform ensemble in both size and stoichiometry, an in situ terminal labelling strategy during the recognition-induced allosteric event came into being, which managed a neat signal enhancement for the detection of model miRNA marker. Even in real samples, the developed sensing approach could achieve high precision, comparable sensitivity and satisfactory selectivity. The adaptation of macrocyclic chemistry for refined biotransducers and efficient ECL amplifiers would offer a generic and potent alternative to the analyte-specified ECL indicator-receptor build in bioassays.