LAUSR

A H2O2-triggered stimulus response electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for sensitive detection of cancer cells using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) has been proposed. ECL signal-generating molecules (Ru(phen)32+) were encapsulated into phenylboronic acid group-functionalized MSNs (PBA–MSNs) porous and capped by polyhydroxy functioned Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) through the interaction of carbohydrate–boronic acid first. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to characterize the materials. The proposed controlled release sensing platform shows approximately no leakage from the mesoporrs of MSNs after a long time of storage. Cancer cells are initially incubated with the functionalized MSNs and then treated with ascorbic acid to endogenously produce H2O2. Arylboronic esters in the MSNs surface can be oxidized by the produced H2O2, causing the releasing of the molecule from MSNs and increased ECL signal. This technique displayed an excellent measurement for the breast cancer cells’ sensitive diagnosis with a detection limit of 208 cells/mL. The phenomenon suggests that this sensing platform may be potentially applied for breast cancer sensitive detection in the future.