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• A sandwich-type signal off PEC sensor was constructed for PCT detection. • The photoactive matrix was Au NPs/BiOI NSs/B-TiO 2 NPs. • PbS/Co 3 O 4 was as a quenching signal label for signal amplification. • The PEC sensor exhibited a low detection limit of 0.02 pg/mL. A novel signal-off photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor was proposed for procalcitonin (PCT) sensitive detection based on the Au nanoparticles/BiOI nanosheets/Black TiO 2 nanoparticles (Au NPs/BiOI NSs/B-TiO 2 NPs) as photoactive matrix and PbS quantum dots/Co 3 O 4 polyhedron (PbS/Co 3 O 4) as a quenching signal label for signal amplification. Concretely, BiOI NSs was fabricated by successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) and formed the interlaced flake-like structure. Then Au NPs dropped on the BiOI NSs/B-TiO 2 NPs electrode forming Au NPs/BiOI NSs/B-TiO 2 NPs sensitization structure, which increased the utilization of visible light and accelerated electron transfer rate, resulting in a desirable PEC signal. PbS/Co 3 O 4 , an effective dual suppression signal quencher, was proposed for signal-off PEC immunosensor to weaken the photocurrent response because of the steric impedance, competitive absorption of light and competing consumption of electron donor. In this proposal, PCT was chosen to measure the performance of the suggested PEC immunosensor. Consequently, the fabricated PEC immunosensor showed a widely detection ranged from 0.1 pg/mL to 50 ng/mL and a low detection limit of 0.02 pg/mL (S/N = 3). What is more, the proposed PEC immunosensor possessed satisfactory selectivity, stability and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The signal indicator and matrix, Fe 3 S 4 -Pd, displayed excellent electrocatalytic activity for H 2 O 2 redox reaction. • Magnetic glassy carbon electrode was used to firmly immobilized the magnetic Fe 3 S 4 -Pd to achieve satisfied stability. • PBG nanomaterial played a role as the electron blocking label that realized a sensitive variation of current signal. • The signal-off sensing platform was successfully constructed, with a low detection limit of 130 fg/mL. Herein, a sandwich-type electrochemical (EC) immunosensor is proposed based on a special signal-off mode for the sensitive detection of procalcitonin (PCT) by utilizing Fe 3 S 4 loaded with Pd nanoparticles (Fe 3 S 4 -Pd) as a signal indicator and matrix and functionalized pineal mesoporous bioactive glass (PBG) as the label for signal amplification. Fe 3 S 4 -Pd not only shows excellent electrocatalytic activity for the H 2 O 2 redox reaction but is also firmly immobilized on a magnetic glassy carbon electrode due to its excellent magnetic properties; because of the above features, this immunosensor exhibits excellent sensitivity and stability, respectively. Glutaraldehyde is used as a cross-linking agent to bond the secondary antibodies (Ab 2) with PBG. It is worth mentioning that the electron transfer rate between the electrolyte and electrode is decreased significantly by PBG-Ab 2 ; thus, a sensitive variation in the current signal is observed, and a further improvement in the sensitivity of the immunosensor is realized. More importantly, the proposed signal-off sensing system has a wide linear detection range of 500 fg/mL to 50 ng/mL for PCT and a low detection limit of 130 fg/mL, which promotes it as a promising detection method for the sensitive detection of other biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A sandwich-type immunosensor for detection of PCT was designed. • CeO 2 -CuO-Au as platform can promote electron transfer. • Au@Ag-Th as signal labels can further effectually amplify the current signal. • The immunosensor presents prominent performance for PCT detection. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a kind of protein exists in the human blood. If the human bodies are infected with bacteria, fungi or parasites, the value of PCT in blood will be significantly raised. Thereby, we report an electrochemical immunosensor for measurement of PCT using gold nanoparticle (Au NP) decorated CeO 2 -CuO (CeO 2 -CuO-Au) as the platform and thionine modified Au@Ag heterojunction nanorods (Au@Ag-Th) as signal labels. Au NP decorated CeO 2 -CuO exhibits high surface area, high activity and good biocompatibility, which can immobilize more primary antibodies and promote electron transfer. The Au@Ag-Th provides good active sites to link secondary antibodies, further effectually amplify the current signal. This immunosensor exhibits a well-pleasing response with a limit detection of 0.17 pg mL−1 and linear detection between 0.5 pg mL−1 and 50 ng mL−1. Meanwhile, the high sensitivity, excellent specificity and acceptable human serum samples testing results of this method lead to potential applications in diagnosis of bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A signal-off type photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor based on Ru(bpy) 3 2+ and Bi 2 S 3 co-sensitized ZnTiO 3 /TiO 2 polyhedra as matrix and SiO 2 /PDA-Au as the label of second antibody was proposed for the ultrasensitive detection of procalcitonin (PCT). The hollow ZnTiO 3 /TiO 2 polyhedra called zinc titanium composite hollow structures (ZTCHS) was prepared by hydrothermal method to enhance the utilization of visible light comparing with pure ZnTiO 3 or TiO 2. The unique structure endowed large specific surface areas and satisfying load capacity to ZTCHS. Ru(bpy) 3 2+ and Bi 2 S 3 were utilized to co-sensitize ZTCHS to further strengthen the PEC performance of ZTCHS. It was interesting that the dual-inhibition effects of SiO 2 /PDA-Au further enhanced the sensitivity of proposed PEC immunosensor. On the one hand, the steric hindrance of SiO 2 /PDA effectively restricted electron transfer. On the other hand, Au nanoparticles could absorb visible light to compete with the matrix material. Based on the above aspects, the proposed signal-off type PEC immunosensor possessed a wide linear range from 0.0001 ng mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1 and low detection limit (about 0.03 pg mL−1, S/N = 3), demonstrating the promising application of PEC immunosensor in analysis fields. ► Novel Ru (bpy) 3 2+ and Bi 2 S 3 sensitized ZTCHS polyhedra shows excellent PEC activity. ► The dual-inhibition effects of SiO 2 /PDA-Au reduce distinctly the photocurrent. ► A signal-off type PEC sensor achieves the ultrasensitive detection of procalcitonin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]