Cobalt-Based Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles with Peroxidase-like Catalytic Activity for Sensitive Colorimetric Detection of Phosphate

Abstract

Appropriate addition of phosphate salt in food can improve the food quality and taste. However, extensive intake of phosphate salt may lead to some human diseases such as hyperphosphatemia and renal insufficiency. Thus, it is essential to establish a cost-effective, convenient, sensitive, and selective method for monitoring phosphate ion (Pi) to ensure food quality control. In this work, a Co-based metal-organic frameworks (Co-MOF) nanomaterial with dual functions (peroxidase-like activity and specific recognition) was designed for acting as a catalytic chromogenic platform for sensitive detection of Pi. The Co2+ nodes not only provide high enzyme-like activity to catalyze the 3,3′,5,5′--tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate to blue oxTMB (652 nm) but also act as selective sites for Pi recognition. The use of cationic organic ligands (2-methylimidazole) and cationic metal ions (Co2+) endows the Co-MOF with a strong positive surface charge, which is beneficial to the capture of negative-charged Pi and the dramatically suppressed TMB oxidation. When Pi exists, it specifically adsorbs onto the Co-MOF through the Co-O-P bond and the strong electrostatic interaction, leading to the change of surface charge on Co-MOF. The peroxidase-like catalytic activity of Co-MOF is thus restrained, causing a different catalytic effect on TMB oxidation from that without Pi. Based on this principle, a colorimetric assay was established for rapid and sensitive detection of Pi. A good linear relationship was obtained between Pi concentration and the absorbance at 652 nm, with a linear range of 0.009–0.144 mg/L and a detection limit of 5.4 μg/L. The proposed assay was applied to the determination of Pi in actual food samples with recoveries of 92.2–108% and relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 2.7–7.3%, illustrating the promising practicality for actual samples analysis.