PCB-based integration of electrochemiluminescence detection for microfluidic systems

Abstract

This communication presents an instrumental development based on the printed circuit board (PCB) technology to integrate electrochemiluminescence (ECL) analysis in microfluidic systems. PCB gold macro- (10 mm²) and micro- (0.09 mm²) electrodes and two ECL microfluidic devices are designed, fabricated and tested via luminol ECL detection. Potential modulation is performed between 0.7 and 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl for luminol oxidation, thus giving rise to on/off ECL responses in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Synchronous detection is adopted to allow weak ECL signal recovery at a very low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The detection limit obtained with the two ECL microfluidic devices is 50 nM and 100 nM H₂O₂ for macroelectrodes and microelectrodes, respectively.