Autoluminescence-Free Dual Tumor Marker Biosensing by Persistent Luminescence Nanostructures

Persistent luminescence materials (PLMs) have been capturing more and more attention in biosensing, which is ascribed to the autoluminescence-free background, no requirement of illumination in situ, and high signal-to-noise ratio. PLMs with tunable persistent luminescence and desired decay patterns are still required to meet the demands of multiple bioassays and time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays. Herein, persistent luminescence nanorods with distinct decay patterns are prepared by doping Mn 2+, Mo 6+, Cr 3+, and Sr 2+ in the Zn 2 GeO 4 (ZGO) host material, and persistent luminescence nanoparticles are synthesized by doping Cr 3+ in the ZnGa 2 O 4 (ZGC) host material. Green-emitted ZGO:Mn NRs and NIR-emitted ZnGa 2 O 4:Cr (ZGC) NPs show slow luminescence decay rates and noninterfered colors and are alternative probes for the dual detection of prostate specific antigens and carcinoembryonic antigens (CEAs). The limits of detection are as low as 8.9 fg mL –1 PSA and 72 fg mL –1 CEA. The nanoprobes are capable of monitoring the CEA level in the human serum matrix. This work provides a new window for the fabrication of multiplex colored PLMs with desired decay patterns, which were used in high throughput cancer early screening, cancer diagnostics, and time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay.