Portable self-powered electrochemical aptasensor for ultrasensitive and real-time detection of microcystin-RR based on hydrovoltaic-photothermal coupling effect

• Published in: Biosensors & bioelectronics 2025-01, Vol.267, p.116834, Article 116834
• Main Authors: Bian, Yuqing, Jiang, Ding, Du, Xiaojiao, Wang, Ying, Shan, Xueling, Wang, Wenchang, Shiigi, Hiroshi, Chen, Zhidong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aniline Compounds - chemistry; Aptamers, Nucleotide - chemistry; Biosensing Techniques - instrumentation; Bismuth - chemistry; Electrochemical Techniques - methods; Equipment Design; Hydrovoltaic; Limit of Detection; Microcystin-RR; Microcystins - analysis; Nanostructures - chemistry; Photothermal; Self-powered electrochemical sensor
• ISSN: 0956-5663; 1873-4235; 1873-4235
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116834

Coupling different energy harvesting technologies to obtain an excellent output signal is essential for the development of high-performance self-powered electrochemical sensors. Herein, a novel hydrovoltaic-photothermal coupling self-powered electrochemical aptasensing platform was designed for sensitive detection of microcystin (MC-RR) with a digital multimeter as a direct visual readout strategy. The straightforward ultrasonic method was employed to synthesize polyaniline (PANI) and bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) nanosheets, which were then integrated as active components in a hydrovoltaic device. The unique layer structure of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials BiOBr can create flexible interlayer spaces to accommodate various ions and water molecules, which was beneficial to construct evaporation-driven channels. Meanwhile, the exceptional photothermal characteristics of polyaniline could accelerate the water evaporation rate, consequently boosting the migration speed of charge carriers and increasing output signal. Moreover, a digital multimeter was connected to the constructed sensor for real-time displaying the output signal. With the assistance of aptamer, a novel self-powered electrochemical aptasensing platform was constructed for sensitive detection of MC-RR. Under optimum conditions, the output signal of the hydrovoltaic-photothermal coupling cell was linearly related to the logarithm of MC-RR concentration in the range of 1 fM to 1 nM with a detection limit of 0.31 fM (S/N = 3). Furthermore, this sensor also exhibited many advantages such as high selectivity, good repeatability and portability. Such novel strategy not only offers a completely new general approach to construct high-performance self-powered devices for the detection of MC-RR, but also provides a new strategy for advancing the miniaturization and field application of self-powered electrochemical sensors.