Detection of N6-methyladenosine in urine samples by electrochemiluminescence using a heated ITO electrode

A sensitive and rapid electrochemiluminescence (ECL) method for the detection of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) in urine samples on a heated indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrode is presented. The ECL intensity of Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) dichlororuthenium(II)hexahydrate (Ru(bpy)32+) can be enhanced by the presence of m6A. Experimental results showed that the change of ECL intensities (ΔI) of the Ru(bpy)32+ between before and after addition of m6A was affected by the working electrode surface temperature (Te); the highest ΔI occurred at 31°C. Under optimum conditions, the ΔI had a linear relationship with the m6A concentration in the range of 1.9×10−9–3.9×10−6mol/L and a detection limit of 7.7×10−10mol/L (S/N=3) at Te=31°C. The recovery of m6A standards added to urine samples verified the accuracy of the proposed method.