Rubpy@FeTHQ conductive metal–organic framework composite for highly sensitive and selective electrochemiluminescence detection of dopamine

Abstract

The development of highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensors for dopamine (Dop) detection plays a vital role in clinical diagnostics and health monitoring. While conductive metal–organic frameworks (cMOFs) are considered promising materials for such applications, their limited intrinsic redox activity restricts their performance. In this work, a novel cMOF composite (Rubpy@FeTHQ) was synthesized through the in-situ incorporation of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ into FeTHQ. The introduction of redox-active sites and luminescent properties is achieved through functionalization with Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, resulting in synergistic enhancement of both conductivity and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) activity. This modification enables efficient dopamine detection. The Rubpy@FeTHQ sensor exhibits outstanding performance in Dop detection, achieving high linearity (R² = 0.997) and a low detection limit (0.064 μM). Additionally, the sensor demonstrates excellent stability, reproducibility, and selectivity, with minimal interference from common biological metabolites. This study highlights the significant potential of Rubpy@FeTHQ as a robust ECL sensor for neurotransmitter detection. The developed composite material provides a scalable approach for designing multifunctional cMOFs tailored for biosensing applications, offering promising opportunities for advancements in clinical diagnostics and health monitoring.