Conjugated Polymer-Based Photoelectrochemical Cytosensor with Turn-On Enable Signal for Sensitive Cell Detection

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b18275
• Publication Date: 2018-01-25T15:31:52Z
• Authors: Shanshan Liu; Ping He; Sameer Hussain; Huan Lu; Xin Zhou; Fengting Lv; Libing Liu; Zhihui Dai; Shu Wang
• Keywords: Polyfluorene; Indium tin oxide; Photocurrent; Cationic polymerization

In this work, a new photoelectrochemical (PEC) cytosensor was constructed by using cationic polyfluorene derivative, poly(9,9-bis(6′-(N,N,N,-trimethylammonium)hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-1,4-phenylene)bromide (PFP) as the photoelectric-responsive material for sensitive cell detection. Positive-charged PFP with high photoelectric conversion efficiency can generate robust photocurrent under light illumination. PEC cytosensor, 3-phosphonopropionic acid linked to indium tin oxide electrode, followed modification antiepithelial-cell-adhesion-molecule (EpCAM) antibody via amide condensation reaction. Thus, target SKBR-3 cells overexpressed EpCAM antigen could be captured onto electrode specific antibody–antigen interactions. Upon adding PFP, favorable electrostatic interaction between and negatively charged membrane led turn-on detection signal cells. This not only exhibits good sensitivity because of performance conjugated polymers, but also offers decent selectivity taking advantage recognition.