Functionalized nanomaterials-based electrochemiluminescent biosensors and their application in cancer biomarkers detection

To detect a range of trace biomarkers associated with human diseases, researchers have been focusing on developing biosensors that possess high sensitivity and specificity. Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors have emerged as a prominent research tool in recent years, owing to their potential superiority in low background signal, high sensitivity, straightforward instrumentation, and ease of operation. Functional nanomaterials (FNMs) exhibit distinct advantages in optimizing electrical conductivity, increasing reaction rate, and expanding specific surface area due to their small size effect, quantum size effect, and surface and interface effects, which can significantly improve the stability, reproducibility, and sensitivity of the biosensors. Thereby, various nanomaterials (NMs) with excellent properties have been developed to construct efficient ECL biosensors. This review provides a detailed summary and discussion of FNMs-based ECL biosensors and their applications in cancer biomarkers detection. The recent advancements in electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors based on functionalized nanomaterials (FNMs) for the detection of cancer biomarkers were comprehensively reviewed. The mechanism of ECL and its prospective applications were demonstrated thoroughly. The applicability and functions of nanomaterials in ECL biosensors were comprehensively introduced, which can be mainly classified into four categories: nanomaterials as ECL luminophores, carriers, interface modification materials, and other aspects. [Display omitted] •Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors have emerged as a prominent research tool in cancer biomarkers.•Functional nanomaterials (FNMs) exhibited distinct advantages in optimizing the performance of the ECL biosensors.•A detailed discussion of FNMs-based ECL biosensors for cancer biomarkers detection was summarized in this work.