Metal-Organic Framework-Based Biosensor for Detecting Hydrogen Peroxide in Plants through Color-to-Thermal Signal...

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Biosensor Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Plant stresses (biotic/abiotic) elevate intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), causing cellular damage.
• Current H2O2 detection methods are often destructive, time-consuming, and complex, requiring sample separation or grinding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel biosensor for real-time, remote, and in situ detection of H2O2 in plant organs.
• To overcome limitations of existing H2O2 detection methods in plants.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a metal-organic framework (MOF)-based biosensor using zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8).
• In situ formation of ZIF-8 biosensors on plant surfaces (root, petiole, leaf) via spraying.
• Utilized color-to-thermal signal conversion, leveraging heat emission from ABTS oxidation upon near-infrared (NIR) light absorption.

Main Results:

• The ZIF-8 biosensor achieved in situ, real-time detection of exogenous/endogenous H2O2 in plant organs.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to sub-micromolar H2O2 concentrations.
• Enabled remote thermal sensing of H2O2 with a high signal-to-noise ratio using NIR laser and thermometer, minimizing plant disturbance.

Conclusions:

• The developed MOF-based biosensor offers a non-destructive, minimally invasive approach for H2O2 monitoring in plants.
• This technology facilitates real-time, in situ analysis of plant signaling pathways and metabolism.
• Potential for future development of advanced plant monitoring sensors.