Oxidase-like MOF-818 Nanozyme with High Specificity for Catalysis of Catechol Oxidation

Despite the extensive studies of the nanozymes showing their superior properties compared to natural enzymes and traditional artificial enzymes, the development of highly specific nanozymes is still a challenge. The catechol oxidase specifically catalyzing the oxidations of o-diphenol to the corresponding o-quinone is important to the biosynthesis of melanin and other polyphenolic natural products. In this study, we first propose that MOF-818, containing trinuclear copper centers mimicking the active sites of natural catechol oxidase, shows efficient catechol oxidase activity with good specificity and no peroxidase-like characteristics. MOF-818 has good specificity and high catalytic activity as a novel catechol oxidase nanozyme.