Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of a Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/arginine system: a specific and sensitive detection of acetaminophen

Ru(bpy)(3)Cl-2/TPrA is a prominent and widely used ECL system in analytical science. However, the co-reactant TPrA restricts the variety of applications because of its toxicity, volatility, and high cost. Here, we use arginine (Arg) as an alternative co-reactant for Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) by taking advantage of its low cost, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility. The mechanism of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/Arg system is that the deprotonated Arg can react with Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) to release emission. The similarity between the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/Arg, Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/TPrA, and Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/DBAE systems demonstrates that Arg can be used as an alternative co-reactant for Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL. As a proof of concept, we achieve an excellent performance for acetaminophen (Ace) detection based on the specificity of Arg and Ace, with excellent linearity, low detection limits, and good recoveries. This work is promising to expand the scope of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)/Arg system and move forward their applications in bioassays.