Metal-organic framework-based nanomaterials as opto-electrochemical sensors for the detection of antibiotics and hormones: A review

Increasing trace levels of antibiotics and hormones in the environment and food samples are concerning and pose a threat. Opto-electrochemical sensors have received attention due to their low cost, portability, sensitivity, analytical performance, and ease of deployment in the field as compared to conventional expensive technologies that are time-consuming and require experienced professionals. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with variable porosity, active functional sites, and fluorescence capacity are attractive materials for developing opto-electrochemical sensors. Herein, the insights into the capabilities of electrochemical and luminescent MOF sensors for detection and monitoring of antibiotics and hormones from various samples are critically reviewed. The detailed sensing mechanisms and detection limits of MOF sensors are addressed. The challenges, recent advances, and future directions for the development of stable, high-performance MOFs as commercially viable next-generation opto-electrochemical sensor materials for the detection and monitoring of diverse analytes are discussed.

A Green Blue LED-Driven Two-Liquid-Phase One-Pot Procedure for the Synthesis of Estrogen-Related Quinol Prodrugs

Quinol derivatives of estrogens are effective pro-drugs in steroid replacement therapy. Here, we report that these compounds can be synthesized in one-pot conditions and high yield by blue LED-driven photo-oxygenation of parent estrogens. The oxidation was performed in buffer and eco-certified 2-methyltetrahydrofuran as the two-liquid-phase reaction solvent, and in the presence of meso-tetraphenyl porphyrin as the photosensitizer. Two steroidal prodrugs 10β, 17β-dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one (DHED) and 10β-Hydroxyestra-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (HEDD) were obtained with high yield and selectivity.

Interaction between laccase and diethylstilbestrol based on multispectral and chromatography analyses

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a synthetic form of oestrogen that does not easily degrade in the environment and can be harmful to human health. Herein, the mechanism of the interaction between laccase and DES was investigated by various spectroscopic means and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results of fluorescence experiments showed that the quenching of intrinsic fluorescence of laccase by DES was due to a static quenching, forming a binding site. According to the Förster non-radiative energy transfer theory (FRET), the action distance R₀ between DES and laccase was 4.708 nm, r was 5.81 nm, and the energy transfer efficiency E was 22.08%, respectively. Both UV-Vis absorption spectra and FT-IR spectra indicated changes in the conformation and surroundings of the enzyme and changed in the secondary structure of laccase. Multispectral synthesis showed that the interaction of laccase with DES caused a change in the secondary structure of laccase. The degradation experiments showed that laccase could degrade DES, and the DES content decreased with time. This study provides a new theoretical basis and experimental method for further research on the reaction mechanism of the laccase degradation of DES. It may also provide a reference basis for human biological and environmental safety evaluations.

Group 4 Metal-Based Metal—Organic Frameworks for Chemical Sensors

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted great attention for their applications in chemical sensors mainly due to their high porosity resulting in high density of spatially accessible active sites, which can interact with the aimed analyte. Among various MOFs, frameworks constructed from group 4 metal-based (e.g., zirconium, titanium, hafnium, and cerium) MOFs, have become especially of interest for the sensors requiring the operations in aqueous media owing to their remarkable chemical stability in water. Research efforts have been made to utilize these group 4 metal-based MOFs in chemosensors such as luminescent sensors, colorimetric sensors, electrochemical sensors, and resistive sensors for a range of analytes since 2013. Though several studies in this subfield have been published especially over the past 3–5 years, some challenges and concerns are still there and sometimes they might be overlooked. In this review, we aim to highlight the recent progress in the use of group 4 metal-based MOFs in chemical sensors, and focus on the challenges, potential concerns, and opportunities in future studies regarding the developments of such chemically robust MOFs for sensing applications.

A luminescent MOF as a fluorescent sensor for the sequential detection of Al3+ and phenylpyruvic acid

A hydroxyl-functionalized MOF was used to construct an “off–on–off” platform for the sequential fluorescence detection of Al³⁺ and phenylpyruvic acid.

Starch-regulated copper-terephthalic acid as a pH/hydrogen peroxide simultaneous-responsive fluorescent probe for lysosome imaging

Lysosome visualization is very important for accurate diagnosis of human diseases. However, currently developed lysosome imaging probes usually have poor specificity and are easily quenched, leading to a low signal to noise ratio in lysosome labeling. To resolve this problem, herein, metal-organic framework-based probes of copper-terephthalic acid (CuBDC) are investigated, which show sensitivity to pH and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), simultaneously. By self-assembling under the template effect of soluble starch, the particle size of CuBDC can be well controlled for entering into cells and locating lysosomes. Based on the Fenton-like reaction, CuBDC can catalyze the decomposition of H₂O₂ into ˙OH, which in turn reacts with CuBDC to generate a stable fluorescent substance. Meanwhile, Cu²⁺ can be released from CuBDC under acidic conditions for reacting with H₂O₂ more thoroughly. And the synthesized CuBDC has a similar attraction to the electrophilic ˙OH at different pH values owing to the residual soluble starch in the particles. The above properties cause CuBDC to have a stable fluorescence signal with low pH values and high H₂O₂ concentration, simultaneously. The fluorescence imaging experiments in HeLa cells demonstrate that CuBDC acting as a pH/H₂O₂ responsive fluorescent probe holds great promise for lysosome-specific imaging.

A stable zirconium based metal-organic framework for specific recognition of representative polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin molecules

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), as a class of persistent and highly toxic organic pollutants, have been posing a great threat to human health and the environment. The sensing of these compounds is important but challenging. Here, we report a highly stable zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF), Zr6O4(OH)8(HCOO)2(CPTTA)2 (BUT-17) with one-dimensional hexagonal channels and phenyl-rich pore surfaces for the recognition and sensing of two representative PCDDs, 2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (BCDD) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), based on the fluorescence quenching. BUT-17 exhibits high sensing ability with the detection limits as low as 27 and 57 part per billion toward BCDD and TCDD, respectively, and is very selective as well without the interference of similar compounds. The recognition of BUT-17 toward BCDD is demonstrated by single-crystal structure of its guest-loaded phase, in which the fluorescence-quenched complexes form between the adsorbed BCDD molecules and the MOF host through π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions.