Colorimetric sensing of bithiols using photocatalytic UiO-66(NH2) as H2O2-free peroxidase mimics

A facile colorimetric sensing method for biothiols was developed, based on photocatalytic property of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), UiO-66(NH2) nanoparticles (NPs), as peroxidase mimics under light irradiation. By the irradiation of a light emitting diode (LED) source, the colorless chromogenic substrate, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzydine (TMB), was oxidized into blue oxTMB with the aid of the catalytic UiO-66(NH2) NPs. With the existence of biothiols, the oxidization was prohibited, with the blue color paled and absorbance intensity decreased with the concentration of biothiols in a linear manner. Real samples of cysteine, glutathione, and homocysteine were analyzed under the optimized conditions, with high sensitivity (the limit of detection was calculated as 306nM, 310nM, and 330nm respectively) and selectivity. The recovery ranged from 93% to 107% with good precisions (RSD%≤5%). This photocatalytic property of UiO-66(NH2) as peroxidase mimics was studied based on steady-state kinetics, and the mechanism of oxidization process was also briefly discussed. This developed MOFs-based colorimetric sensing method demonstrated advantages over others for biothiols sensing, including high photo-catalytic activity compared to other nanomaterials, oxidation without H2O2, ease of regulation with the LED source, and low cost without expensive instrument and technically demanding.