Establishing　an　effective　system　to　measure　formaldehyde　(HCHO)　content　in　food　is　of　great　significance　due　to　food　safety　concern.　Inspired　by　the　mechanism　of　HCHO-induced　protein　denaturation　and　its　effect　on　ion/molecule　transport　in　nanochannels,　a　bioinspired　microchannel-based　electrochemiluminescence　(ECL)　sensor　was　constructed　for　HCHO　detection.　Benefiting　from　the　water　solubility　of　HCHO,　the　molecules　rapidly　spread　and　enriched　at　the　ethylenediamine　(EDA)　functionalized　microchannel　interface.　The　reaction　between　EDA　and　HCHO　significantly　increased　the　negative　charge　density,　leading　to　enhanced　electroosmotic　flow　(EOF).　This　enhancement　resulted　in　ion　concentration　depletion　at　the　microchannel　tip　and　a　corresponding　decrease　in　ionic　current　and　ECL　intensity.　The　ECL　intensity　exhibited　a　linear　dependence　on　the　logarithm　of　HCHO　concentration　ranging　from　1　pg　mL−1　to　100　ng　mL−1,　with　a　detection　limit　of　0.26　pg　mL−1(S/N　=　3).　The　biosensor　demonstrated　high　selectivity,　successfully　detecting　HCHO　in　shrimp　samples.　The　performance　of　the　bioinspired　sensor　was　confirmed　through　comparation　with　existing　methods,　showcasing　its　superior　sensitivity　and　reliability.　The　bioinspired　sensor　provides　robust　technical　support　for　HCHO　detection,　crucial　for　food　safety　monitoring.　Additionally,　the　innovative　combination　of　bionics　and　microchannel-based　ECL　technology　broadens　the　application　range　of　ECL　sensors,　marking　a　significant　advancement　in　the　field.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.