Iridium Complexes for Aqueous Electrochemiluminescence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrochemiluminescence-based detection methods, particularly for in vitro diagnostics, lack sensitivity and are limited by the use of water-soluble ruthenium complexes, which are not effective in aqueous media, hindering the detection of analytes from biological samples.
Innovation Solution
Development of iridium-based Ir(III+) luminescent complexes with specific functional groups and linkers, which form conjugates with affinity binding agents, enabling high-sensitivity electrochemiluminescence in aqueous solutions for analyte detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If water-soluble ruthenium complexes are used for ECL-based detection, then the method is applicable to aqueous media, but the sensitivity and detection performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the metal center from ruthenium to iridium and modifies the ligand structure to include specific functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, amino) that enhance water solubility and electrochemiluminescence efficiency in aqueous media, thereby improving detection sensitivity while maintaining reliability in aqueous environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite iridium complexes combining multiple ligands with specific functional groups (e.g., phenanthridine, bipyridine, carboxylic acid) to achieve both high electrochemiluminescence efficiency and water solubility, resolving the contradiction between sensitivity and aqueous media effectiveness
2Use of energy by moving object
If OLED dyes are used in organic solvents, then high luminescence efficiency is achieved, but they cannot be effectively used in aqueous media for biological sample analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the solubility parameters of OLED-like dyes by introducing hydrophilic functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, amino) on the ligand structure, enabling these previously organic-solvent-only compounds to function efficiently in aqueous media while maintaining their luminescence properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water-soluble ligands as intermediaries that bridge the gap between organic OLED dyes and aqueous biological samples, allowing the luminescent iridium complex to operate in water-based environments while maintaining high efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The iridium-based complexes demonstrate high electrochemiluminescence efficiency in aqueous systems, surpassing the limitations of traditional methods by providing sensitive detection of analytes, including biological substances, with improved performance compared to OLED dyes in organic solvents.
Implementation Method 1
Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (also called electrochemiluminescence and abbreviated ECL) is the process whereby species generated at electrodes undergo high-energy electron-transfer reactions to form excited states that emit light
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to novel iridium-based Ir(III) luminescent complexes, conjugates comprising these complexes as a label and their application, e.g. in the electrochemiluminescence based detection of an analyte.