Electrochemiluminescent Biosensors: Neuroscience Applications

The convergence of photonics, electrochemistry, materials, and biomedical sciences at the nanoscale opens up significant new opportunities. For example, ElectroChemiLuminescence (ECL ), in which an electronically excited state is electrochemically created that then goes on to emit light, opens up new possibilities for the sensitive and selective detection of biomolecules. However, key biomarkers are often present at low concentration demanding the development of highly sensitive, even single molecule, assays. Moreover, in traditional systems, the ECL generated often overlaps significantly with blood and tissue making in vivo measurements challenging. In this contribution, we present key examples of materials, light generation mechanisms, and detection strategies that can significantly impact on these challenges to create new sensors capable of elucidating key biological processes and providing early detection of disease biomarkers.