Electrochemiluminescent swimmers for dynamic enzymatic sensing

Abstract

An electrochemiluminescent (ECL) swimmer driven by bipolar electrochemistry is reported for enzymatic glucose sensing. The chemo-mechanical motion is induced by localized hydrogen bubble generation. The concomitant oxidation of the luminophore and of the enzymatically-produced NADH leads to ECL emission with a direct glucose-dependent light intensity. We demonstrate herein the local sensing and reporting of glucose in a concentration gradient explored by the ECL swimmer. Such a dynamic sensing approach combines in a synergetic way the wireless propulsion with the enzymatic selectivity using ECL as a readout method at the level of moving objects.