Engineering the Electrochemiluminescence Microenvironment: Mechanistic Roles of Nanomaterials in Aptamer‐Based Sensors
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) has emerged as one of the most powerful transduction strategies for biosensing owing to its high sensitivity, low background signals, and precise electrochemical control. In recent years, the convergence of ECL with aptamers and nanomaterials has enabled the development of highly sensitive and versatile analytical platforms. While nanomaterials were initially introduced as support for receptor immobilization, they are increasingly recognized as active regulators of the ECL microenvironment influencing both the efficiency and mechanism of ECL emission. This review examines advances reported between 2023 and 2026 in nanomaterial‐enabled ECL aptasensors, emphasizing the mechanistic roles of nanomaterials beyond their conventional functions as luminophores or carriers. We discuss nanomaterials employed as ECL emitters and as modulators of the local ECL environment and propose a functional classification of aptasensors based on dominant signal regulation mechanisms, including interfacial regulation, chemical control of ECL generation, photophysical modulation, spatial confinement, and programmable amplification strategies. Furthermore, we critically discuss analytical characteristics of the sensors, practical robustness, and the necessity of rigorous aptamer validation to address current reproducibility challenges. Finally, we outline future perspectives and the fundamental hurdles such as batch‐to‐batch variability and long‐term stability, remaining for the commercial translation of these rapidly evolving biosensing platforms.