New copper metal-organic framework nanozymes enable intelligent food detection

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Schematic diagram of Cu-MOF nanozyme design and LTP preparation process. Credit: Liu Chao

Nanozymes have high catalytic activity, high stability and high adaptability, and have become a new sensitive material for building sensors in the field of detection. Designing and preparing efficient nanozymes and promotion of their application in food detection have attracted much attention from researchers.

Recently, a team led by Prof. Huang Qing from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, prepared a series of Cu metal organic framework (MOF) nanozymes with the gas-liquid interface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) low-temperature plasma (LTP) technology.

The study is published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

These nanozymes have different base ligands and mimic the activity of laccase. They exhibited varying responses to five common bioactive substances found in food.

Evaluation of natural active ingredients in real food samples using smartphones. Credit: Liu Chao

Huang and his team also developed encoded array sensors capable of high-throughput, sensitive, and rapid identification and quantitative analysis of substances in the concentration range of 1.5–150 μg/mL. The sensors will be used for intelligent sensing and identification of bioactive components in food, according to the researchers.

The degree of color change induced by the nanozymes can be easily observed using a smartphone, with these sensors, enabling portable and intelligent rapid food detection.

This study provides not only a new way to prepare efficient nanozymes, but also an intelligent and convenient method for food inspection.

More information: Chao Liu et al, LTP-assisted fabrication of laccase-like Cu-MOF nanozyme-encoded array sensor for identification and intelligent sensing of bioactive components in food, Biosensors and Bioelectronics (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116784

Journal information: Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences