Polymer Dots for Photoelectrochemical Bioanalysis

Different from the most extensively used inorganic quantum dots (Qdots) for the current state-of-the-art photoelectrochemical (PEC) bioanalysis, this work reports the first demonstration of polymer dots (Pdots) for novel PEC bioanalysis. The semiconducting Pdots were prepared via the reprecipitation method and then immobilized onto the transparent indium tin oxide glass electrode for PEC biodetection of the model molecule l-cysteine. The experimental results revealed that the as-fabricated Pdots exhibited excellent and interesting PEC activity and good analytical performance of rapid response, high stability, wide linear range, and excellent selectivity. In particular, the PEC sensor could easily discriminate l-cysteine from reduced l-glutathione (l-GSH). This work manifested the great promise of Pdots in the field of PEC bioanalysis, and it is believed that our work could inspire the development of numerous functional Pdots with unique properties for innovative PEC bioanalytical purposes in the future.