Multifunctional boronic acid-modified zirconium-based MOFs as peroxidase-mimicking colorimetric platforms for β-NAD...

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable porosity, large surface area, and versatile surface chemistry, making them promising candidates for multifunctional nanoplatforms. Here, we report the functionalization of zirconium based MOFs (UiO-66-NH₂) with 4-formylphenylboronic acid (FPBA) to integrate cis-diol recognition capability with peroxidase-mimicking catalytic activity. Functionalization of UiO-66-NH₂ with FPBA provides a versatile strategy for advanced MOF design, introducing cis-diol recognition sites while preserving the intrinsic porosity of the framework. The resulting UiO-66-NH₂-FPBA exhibits high β-NAD adsorption capacity (78.2 mg g^-1) and efficient desorption under neutral conditions. Moreover, its intrinsic catalytic activity enables colorimetric detection through OPDA oxidation, with kinetic parameters (K_m = 1364.7 μM, V_m = 84.03 μM min^-1) comparable to natural enzymes. The presented method is efficient, rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive for the colorimetric detection of β-NAD with a linear range from 0 to 750 μM in both acetate buffer, pH 5.5 (LOD = 2.9 μM) and diluted human serum (LOD = 30.2 μM). This dual functionality highlights the potential of FPBA-modified MOFs as advanced multifunctional nanoplatforms, bridging molecular recognition and nanozyme catalysis for future applications in biochemical sensing and nanobiotechnology.