Advancing polarity-transcendent design: Development of a photoelectrochemical sensor with extended detection range
Abstract
In photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors, traditional detection modes such as "signal-on", "signal-off", and "polarity-switchable" limit target signals to a single polarity range, necessitating novel design strategies to enhance the operational scope. To overcome this limitation, we propose, for the first time, a "polarity-transcendent" design concept that enables a continuous response across the polarity spectrum, significantly broadening the sensor's concentration detection range. This concept is exemplified in our new "background-enhanced signal-off polarity-switchable" (BESOPS) mode, where the model analyte let-7a activates a cascade shearing reaction of a DNAzyme walker in conjunction with CRISPR/Cas12a, quantitatively peeling off Cu2O-H2 strands at the Cu2O/TiO2 electrode interface to expose the TiO2 surface. This exposure generates an anodic photocurrent at the expense of the cathodic photocurrent from Cu2O/TiO2, facilitating a seamless transition of the target signal from cathodic to anodic. Through systematic experiments and comparative analyses, the BESOPS sensor demonstrates highly sensitive and precise quantification of let-7a, with a detection limit of 2.5 aM and a broad operating range of 10 aM to 10 nM. Its performance exceeds most reported sensor platforms, highlighting the significant potential of our polarity-transcendent design in expanding the operational range of PEC sensors. This innovative approach paves the way for developing next-generation PEC sensors…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Nano Biosensors: Properties, applications and electrochemical techniques
- Electrochemically Synthesized MIP Sensors: Applications in Healthcare Diagnostics
- Toward a Harmonization for Using in situ Nutrient Sensors in the Marine Environment
- Electrochemical determination of rutin by using NiFe2O4 nanoparticles-loaded reduced graphene oxide
- Application of Polyoxometalate-based composites for sensor systems: A review
- Sensitive Electrochemical and Thermal Detection of Human Noroviruses Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanoparticles Generated against a Viral Target
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.