A novel luminol derivative of N-(1,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophthalazin-5-yl)acrylamide (DTA) with excellent luminescence efficiency was designed and synthesized. Furthermore, a molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor (MIECLS) was fabricated to detect ultratrace levels of human serum albumin (HSA) with high sensitivity and selectivity via a click reaction. The molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were formed on the electrode surface via electropolymerization with HSA as a template molecule and catechol as a monomer. In the detection process, the -SH group of HSA on the electrode and the C = C bond of acryloyl group in DTA formed a new C-S bond via the Michael addition reaction to construct the MIECLS. The higher the concentration of HSA, the greater electrochemiluminescence (ECL) intensity measured. Taking advantage of MIECLS for ECL detection (scanning potential, − 0.4 to 0.5 V), there was a good linear relationship between ECL intensity and the logarithm of HSA concentration in the range 5 × 10^–9 to 1 × 10^–13 mg mL⁻¹. The limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor was 1.05 × 10^–15 mg mL⁻¹. The sensor exhibited outstanding selectivity and stability. The sensor was applied to detect HSA in human serum with good recoveries of 97.7–105.2%. The concentration of HSA was detected by electrochemical method using the gating effect of MIP.

Graphical Abstract