A hierarchical charge transport cascade based on W-Bi2S3/poly(thiophenyl-3-boronic acid) hybrid for robust photoelectrochemical analysis of subgroup J of avian leukosis virus

A reusable and effective signal-on photoelectrochemical sensing platform for ALVs-J discrimination is constructed based an enhanced photoelectrode with the hierarchical charge transport cascade, by successively organizing W-doped Bi2S3 nanostructures and electropolymerized poly(thiophenyl-3-boronic acid). [Display omitted] •Photoactive W-Bi2S3 composites were synthesized in aqueous system without organic additives.•The photoelectrode was fabricated onto ITO based on W-Bi2S3/PTBA heterojunction.•PTBA rendered PEC sensor with enhanced photocurrent and biologically recognition sites.•The proposed PEC sensor depicted high sensitivity and reproducibility for ALVs-J assay A novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) analyzing platform was fabricated based on tungsten-doped Bi2S3 (W-Bi2S3) composite and electropolymerized poly(thiophenyl-3-boronic acid) (PTBA) for detecting subgroup J of avian leukosis virus (ALVs-J). W-Bi2S3 composite was synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method without any organic reagents. Benefiting from the appropriate energy level cascade between PTBA and W-Bi2S3, the PTBA/W-Bi2S3/ITO electrode exhibited improved PEC performance. Based on the reaction between boric acid and sialic acid on the surface of target virus, boronic acids were used as probing receptors for capturing ALVs-J. Alkaline phosphatase assembled on the modified electrode surface was used to catalyze the hydrolysis of ascorbic acid 2-phosphate in situ producing ascorbic acid for electron donating. The proposed PEC sensor for ALVs-J assay showed a wide linear range, high sensitivity and lower detection limit. This method provides a rapid, effective and reusable platform for screening the ALVs-J-infected poultry.