Engineered CeO@Ru Nanospheres via Size-Metal-Loading Synergy to Enhance Chemiluminescence Efficiency for Sensitive Immunochromatographic Assay.

Exploring chemiluminescence-based immunochromatographic assay (CLICA) is favorable for sensitive point-of-care testing, yet inefficient CL efficiency (Φ) and poor visualization hinder the progress of CLICA. Herein, CeO@Ru nanospheres (CeO@RuNSs) are engineered through a "Size-Metal-Loading" synergistic tactic to significantly enhance Φ in luminol-HO-based CLICA for sensitive ochratoxin A (OTA) detection. As the core of the sensor, the structure-Φ relationship of CeO@RuNSs is systematically explored through size regulation, metal deposition, and loading optimization. Systematic studies reveal that large-sized CeO exhibits superior peroxidase-like activity among three particle sizes, and subsequent Ru doping coupled with loading regulation synergistically boost catalytic performance, achieving an 8.3-fold higher Φ (10.59×10 einsteins/mol) compared to small-sized CeO. Furthermore, the CeO@RuNSs-labeled antibodies serve as probes to construct CLICA with preeminent intensity, while the CL system components are carefully optimized for effective visualization. Impressively, a portable detection device is designed by the integration of CeO@RuNSs-CLICA with a smartphone-based readout. After optimization, the detection limit of this CLICA can reach as low as 0.06 ng mL, which is much lower than that of traditional gold nanoparticle-based ICA (0.23 ng mL), with admirable specificity and reproducibility. Ultimately, the sensor performs well in wheat and barley samples with satisfactory recovery rates (92.1%-114.9%).