title: Versatile electrochemiluminescence assays for cancer cells based on dendrimer/CdSe-ZnS-quantum dot nanoclusters.
abstract: In this work, a novel dendrimer/CdSe-ZnS-quantum dot nanocluster (NC) was fabricated and used as an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) probe for versatile assays of cancer cells for the first time. A large number of CdSe-ZnS-quantum dots (QDs) were labeled on the NCs due to the many functional amine groups within the NCs, which could significantly amplify the QD's ECL signal. Capture DNA was specially designed as a high-affinity aptamer to the target cell; a novel ECL biosensor for cancer cells was directly accomplished by using the biobarcode technique to avoid cross-reaction. Moreover, magnetic beads (MBs) for aptamers immobilization were combined with the dendrimer/QD NCs probe for signal-on ECL assay of cancer cells, which greatly simplified the separation procedures and favored for the sensitivity improvement. In particular, a novel cycle-amplifying technique using a DNA device on MBs was further employed in the ECL assay of cancer cells, which greatly improved the sensitivity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that the novel dendrimer/QD NCs probe combined with a DNA device cycle-amplifying technique was employed in the ECL assays of cells. Excellent discrimination against target and control cells is demonstrated, indicating that the ECL assays have great potential to provide a sensitive, selective, cost-effective, and convenient approach for early and accurate detection of cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Base of Eco-chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guifen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jie
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jinxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Shusheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D045663:Quantum Dots; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D050091:Dendrimers; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C058667:cadmium selenide; C031238:zinc sulfide