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Breaking the Cryogenic Sensing Limitation: Solvent-Microenvironment-Programmed Cold-Adaptable Nanozymes Enable
Xinyu Chen1, Ruihan Zou1, Jinjin Liu1
1School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
Analytical Chemistry
|June 2, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a cold-adaptable nanozyme for detecting volatile amines (VAs) in cold food chains. This manganese-coordinated polyphosphate (Mn(DTPMP)) shows robust performance at low temperatures, overcoming limitations in cryogenic sensing.
Area of Science:
- Biochemical analysis
- Materials science
- Cryogenic sensing
Background:
- Nanozymes offer advantages over natural enzymes but struggle with low-temperature efficiency.
- Practical applications in cryogenic environments are limited by poor catalytic kinetics at low temperatures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a cold-adaptable nanozyme for sensitive detection of volatile amines (VAs) in food cold-chain logistics.
- To overcome the limitations of low-temperature sensing in nanozymes.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized solvent-microenvironment-programmed manganese-coordinated polyphosphate (Mn(DTPMP)) using hydrothermal methods with varying solvents.
- Investigated the nanozyme's structure, surface chemistry, and catalytic properties across a wide temperature range.
- Developed a colorimetric approach for VA detection leveraging the cold-adaptable nanozyme.
Main Results:
- Mn(DTPMP) demonstrated robust oxidase-mimetic activity from near-zero to physiological temperatures.
- The nanozyme's cold-adaptable feature is attributed to its composition, valence state, low activation energy, and high-spin electron configuration.
- A sensitive colorimetric method for VA detection achieved a detection limit of 0.17 ppm in low-temperature environments.
Conclusions:
- The developed Mn(DTPMP) nanozyme breaks the temperature barrier for sensitive cryogenic measurements.
- This work provides insights into solvent-microenvironment regulation of nanozymes and their cold-adaptable mechanisms.
- The findings inspire the design of advanced enzyme mimics for broader cryogenic applications.
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