Electrochemiluminescence biosensor for Ramos cells based on a nanostructured conducting polymer composite material (PICA‐MWNTs)

ABSTRACT A novel nanostructured conducting polymer (PICA‐MWNTs) is easily prepared by direct electrodeposition of indole‐6‐carboxylic acid (ICA) and carboxylic groups ended multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in acetonitrile in one step. The resulting PICA‐MWNTs composites with larger specific surface area and quite a few functionalized carboxylic acid groups are naturally integrated as a continuous uniform film on the electrode. CdSe quantum dots electrochemiluminescence biosensor with high sensitivity for detection of Ramos cells is fabricated based on PICA‐MWNTs. Coupled with nanoparticle‐amplification technnique, this sensor shows high sensitivity and good selectivity for Ramos cells with a low detection limit of 390 cells mL −1 . This result provides an avenue for a simple and sensitive approach for detection of Ramos cells, which may have great potential in clinical applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2385–2392