Quenching study of Cu2S-MPA/NGODs composites in electrochemiluminescence detection by modulating resonance energy transfer and adsorption process

Abstract

This study explores the principles of resonance energy transfer and adsorption modulation using composites of Cu₂S-MPA/NGODs. These composites can efficiently control the quenching process of electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) was added during the synthesis of Cu₂S-MPA to enhance its attachment to nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGODs). The UV absorption peaks of NGODs coincided with the emission peaks of luminol ECL, enabling resonance energy transfer and enhancing the quenching capability of Cu₂S-MPA. Meanwhile, there is another quenching strategy. When the readily reducible Cu⁺ ions underwent partial reduction to Cu when they were bound to NGODs. This weakened the electrocatalytic effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and had a detrimental impact on electron transfer. Under optimal conditions, the immunosensor ECL intensity decreased linearly with the logarithm of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentration in the range of 0.00001–40 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.269 fg/mL. The sensor was effectively utilized for the identification of CEA in actual serum samples.