Dual-Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence Imaging on a Monolayer Film of Nanoreactors for Probing Cell–Matrix Interaction

Abstract Cell–matrix interactions play a fundamental role in various biological processes and cellular functions. Although electrochemiluminescence (ECL) microscopy, particularly the negative ECL mode, offers a promising label-free approach for investigating cell–matrix interactions, its broader application is constrained by relatively low luminescence efficiency. In this study, we developed a dual-enhanced negative ECL imaging platform utilizing a monolayer film of gold nano sea-urchin@mesoporous silica (AuNSU@mSiO2) nanoreactors. This self-assembled monolayer film inherits the nanoconfinement effect and localized surface plasmon resonance properties from individual AuNSU@mSiO2 nanoreactors, endowing it with a substantial amplification of the ECL signal from the Ru(bpy)32+/TPrA system. Owing to its flatness and structural uniformity, the monolayer film ensures homogeneous ECL enhancement, thereby enabling high sensitivity and spatially resolved observation of cell adhesion. This platform outperforms the conventional negative ECL systems by providing a superior signal-to-noise ratio and an extended dynamic range, which allows for revealing cell adhesion heterogeneity and strength distribution. This work not only provides a powerful tool for probing cell–matrix interactions but also paves the way for fundamental studies in numerous biological processes.