Recent Progress and Prospect of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Nanozymes in Biomedical Application

A nanozyme is a nanoscale material having enzyme-like properties. It exhibits several superior properties, including low preparation cost, robust catalytic activity, and long-term storage at ambient temperatures. Moreover, high stability enables repetitive use in multiple catalytic reactions. Hence, it is considered a potential replacement for natural enzymes. Enormous research interest in nanozymes in the past two decades has made it imperative to look for better enzyme-mimicking materials for biomedical applications. Given this, research on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a potential nanozyme material has gained momentum. MOFs are advanced hybrid materials made of inorganic metal ions and organic ligands. Their distinct composition, adaptable pore size, structural diversity, and ease in the tunability of physicochemical properties enable MOFs to mimic enzyme-like activities and act as promising nanozyme candidates. This review aims to discuss recent advances in the development of MOF-based nanozymes (MOF-NZs) and highlight their applications in the field of biomedicine. Firstly, different enzyme-mimetic activities exhibited by MOFs are discussed, and insights are given into various strategies to achieve them. Modification and functionalization strategies are deliberated to obtain MOF-NZs with enhanced catalytic activity. Subsequently, applications of MOF-NZs in the biosensing and therapeutics domain are discussed. Finally, the review is concluded by giving insights into the challenges encountered with MOF-NZs and possible directions to overcome them in the future. With this review, we aim to encourage consolidated efforts across enzyme engineering, nanotechnology, materials science, and biomedicine disciplines to inspire exciting innovations in this emerging yet promising field.

Bimetallic Cu-Zn Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks as Peroxidase Mimics for the Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide: Electrochemical and Spectrophotometric Evaluation

A copper incorporated zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has been synthesized and demonstrated to be a potential material for a peroxidase mimic. The resultant bimetallic Cu-Zn incorporated MOF is used for the dual mode sensing of hydrogen peroxide by following electrochemical as well as spectrophotometric methods. Using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as a chromogenic substrate, spectrophotometric studies are carried out, and the steady state kinetic parameters are determined for two different concentrations of Cu incorporated ZIF-8 (viz Cu@ZIF-8-1 and Cu@ZIF-8-2). It is found that both Cu@ZIF-8-1 and Cu@ZIF-8-2 exhibit more affinity toward the TMB substrate than the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme as indicated by the low Km values obtained for the substrate. Also, as the concentration of incorporated Cu increases, Vmax values are also found to be enhanced. Electrochemically, the Cu@ZIF-8 modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) showed a good response for peroxide detection in the concentration range from 0.5 mM to 5 mM at a working potential of -0.25 V in PBS (pH 7.0) with a limit of detection (LOD) value of 0.46 mM and a sensitivity of 20.25 μA/mM. Further, the chromogenic substrate TMB is successfully immobilized on the electrode surface and subsequently used for the peroxide detection along with Cu@ZIF-8. Here, TMB acts as a mediator and shifted the working potential to 0.1 V in acetate buffer (pH 5.0) in the concentration range from 0.5 mM to 5 mM with an LOD value of 0.499 mM and a sensitivity of 0.097 μA/mM. Interestingly, the same electrode in PBS of pH 7.0 showed a response to peroxide at a working potential of -0.1 V in the concentration range from 0.5 mM to 5 mM with an LOD value of 0.143 mM and a sensitivity of 0.33 μA/mM. Moreover, the applicability of this material for peroxide sensing is evaluated using milk samples, and the proposed material is able to recover the peroxide present in milk. Thus, the bimetallic Cu-Zn MOF can be utilized for the dual mode sensing of peroxide and can be extended for various real time applications.

Electrochemical-Based Sensing Platforms for Detection of Glucose and H2O2 by Porous Metal-Organic Frameworks: A Review of Status and Prospects

Establishing enzyme-free sensing assays with great selectivity and sensitivity for glucose and H₂O₂ detection has been highly required in biological science. In particular, the exploitation of nanomaterials by using noble metals of high conductivity and surface area has been widely investigated to act as selective catalytic agents for molecular recognition in sensing platforms. Several approaches for a straightforward, speedy, selective, and sensitive recognition of glucose and H₂O₂ were requested. This paper reviews the current progress in electrochemical detection using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for H₂O₂ and glucose recognition. We have reviewed the latest electrochemical sensing assays for in-place detection with priorities including straightforward procedure and manipulation, high sensitivity, varied linear range, and economic prospects. The mentioned sensing assays apply electrochemical systems through a rapid detection time that enables real-time recognition. In profitable fields, the obstacles that have been associated with sample preparation and tool expense can be solved by applying these sensing means. Some parameters, including the impedance, intensity, and potential difference measurement methods have permitted low limit of detections (LODs) and noticeable durations in agricultural, water, and foodstuff samples with high levels of glucose and H₂O₂.

Recent Trends in Metal Nanoparticles Decorated 2D Materials for Electrochemical Biomarker Detection

Technological advancements in the healthcare sector have pushed for improved sensors and devices for disease diagnosis and treatment. Recently, with the discovery of numerous biomarkers for various specific physiological conditions, early disease screening has become a possibility. Biomarkers are the body's early warning systems, which are indicators of a biological state that provides a standardized and precise way of evaluating the progression of disease or infection. Owing to the extremely low concentrations of various biomarkers in bodily fluids, signal amplification strategies have become crucial for the detection of biomarkers. Metal nanoparticles are commonly applied on 2D platforms to anchor antibodies and enhance the signals for electrochemical biomarker detection. In this context, this review will discuss the recent trends and advances in metal nanoparticle decorated 2D materials for electrochemical biomarker detection. The prospects, advantages, and limitations of this strategy also will be discussed in the concluding section of this review.

Amplified oxidative stress therapy by a degradable copper phosphate nanozyme coated by the in situ polymerization of PEGDA

The elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by glutathione (GSH) is a fundamental concern in the oxidative stress therapy (OST) of tumors. This is the first report of copper phosphate nanospheres coated by poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (Cu₃(PO₄)₂@PEGDA) which act as nanozymes to amplify the anti-tumor effects of OST. Cu₃(PO₄)₂@PEGDA not only catalyzes the generation of ˙OH from H₂O₂ but also consumes GSH, which is counterproductive to the role of ˙OH. Moreover, the photothermal properties of Cu₃(PO₄)₂@PEGDA further enhances the outcome of the OST when exposed to an 808 nm laser. Another novelty lies in that a new PEGylation strategy of peroxidase-like nanozymes is proposed, in which the Cu₃(PO₄)₂ cores work as internal heaters and radical generators, which are necessary to initiate the radical polymerization of PEGDA. An elaborate core-shell nanostructure is obtained since the polymerization prefers to take place in the vicinity of the cores, overcoming the drawbacks of traditional PEGylation methods which include invalid polymerization far away from the cores and easy core-shell disassembly during applications.

Constructing a Facile Biocomputing Platform Based on Smart Supramolecular Hydrogel Film Electrodes with Immobilized Enzymes and Gold Nanoclusters

Herein, fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were simultaneously embedded into self-assembled dipeptide supramolecular films of N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) on the surface of ITO electrodes (Fmoc-FF/AuNCs/HRP) by using a simple single-step process. In the films, both the fluorescence property of AuNCs and the bioelectrocatalytic property of HRP were well maintained and could be reversibly regulated by pH-sensitive structural changes in the Fmoc-FF hydrogel films. Cu(II)/EDTA in the solution could lead to the aggregation/disaggregation of AuNCs and further quenching/dequenching the fluorescence signal from the films. Meanwhile, the blue complexes formed by Cu(II) and EDTA could produce a UV-vis signal in the solution. In addition, the coordinated Cu(II) in the films enhanced the electrocatalytic capacity toward the reduction of H₂O₂ and could switch the current signal. A biomolecular logic circuit was built based on the smart film electrode system by using pH, the concentrations of EDTA, Cu(II) and H₂O₂ as inputs, while the fluorescence intensity (FL), current (I) and UV-vis extinction (E) of the solution as outputs. Various logic devices were fabricated using the uniform platform, consisting of an encoder/decoder, demultiplexer, dual-transfer gate, keypad lock, digital comparator, half adder, and controlled NOT (CNOT) gate. Specifically, an electronic three-value logic gate, gullibility (ANY) gate, was first mimicked in this biocomputing system. This work not only demonstrated the construction of a new type of multivalued logic gate by using a dipeptide micromolecular matrix but also provided a new approach for designing sophisticated biologic functions, establishing smart multianalyte biosensing or fabricating biology information processing through the use of a simple film system.

Iodide/metal-organic frameworks (MOF) -mediated signal amplification strategy for the colorimetric detection of H2O2, Cr2O72- and H2S

The analytical methods based on colorimetric detection of various analytes have attracted intensive interest. However, most of them display relatively low sensitivity. Herein, a novel colorimetric strategy based on iodide/metal-organic frameworks (MOF)-mediated amplification was developed for low-cost, naked-eye detection and quantification of H₂O₂,Cr₂O₇^2-, and H₂S. Cu-MOFs could catalyze the oxidation of the colorless peroxidase substrate TMB to produce a blue product. The published researches mainly focused on the immobilization or integration of a macromolecule, such as natural enzymes, to enhance MOFs catalytic abilities. The use of small molecules to improve the catalytic performance of MOFs has rarely reported. Due to the negligible steric hindrance, iodide could easily be adsorbed in the framework pore of MOFs to conduct the synergic catalytic effect, and shows a high catalytic effect. As a result, the catalytic activity of Cu-MOFs was dramatically enhanced, and thus, the nanocatalyst could act as an amplifier system for target detection. The detection limits obtained by the amplified method are 25, 30, and 0.2 nM, respectively, which are about 200-fold lower than that of the unamplified colorimetric assays. The colorimetric strategy developed herein provides a novel system for the detection of low concentrations of analytes in complex biological samples.

Nanozymes in electrochemical affinity biosensing

Over the past decade, artificial nanomaterials that exhibit properties similar to those of enzymes are gaining attraction in electrochemical biosensing as highly stable and low-cost alternatives to enzymes. This review article discusses the main features of the various nanomaterials (metal oxide, metal, and carbon-based materials) explored so far to mimic different kinds of enzymes. The unprecedented opportunities imparted by these functional nanomaterials or their nanohybrids, mostly providing peroxidase-like activity, in electrochemical affinity biosensing are critically discussed mainly in connection with their use as catalytic labels or electrode surface modifiers by highlighting representative strategies reported in the past 5 years with application in the food, environmental, and biomedical fields. Apart from outlining the pros and cons of nanomaterial-based enzyme mimetics arising from the impressive development they have experienced over the last few years, current challenges and future directions for achieving their widespread use and exploiting their full potential in the development of electrochemical biosensors are discussed. Graphical abstract.

A controllable synthesis of hollow pumpkin-like CuO/Cu2O composites for ultrasensitive non-enzymatic glucose and hydrogen peroxide biosensors

Different ratios of hollow pumpkin-like CuO/Cu₂O composites are investigated and their remarkable catalytic capability for glucose and H₂O₂ detection are demonstrated.

Nitro-functionalized metal–organic frameworks with catalase mimic properties for glutathione detection

Herein, four copper-based metal–organic frameworks were synthesized to investigate the effects of the substituents in ligands on the enzyme-like catalytic activity of these frameworks.