Label-free homogeneous photoelectrochemical aptasensing of VEGF 165 based on DNA-regulated peroxidase-mimetic activity of metal-organic-frameworks

The application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) nanozymes in biosensing has been extensively investigated, however, till now there is still no report on photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing based on enzyme memetic properties of MOFs. To further expand the utilization of MOFs nanozymes in biosensing, we developed a label-free homogenous PEC aptasensor for the detection of VEGF 165 , an important cancer biomarker, based on the DNA-regulated peroxidase-mimetic activity of Fe-MIL-88, a type of MOFs. In this strategy, the peroxidase-mimetic property of MOFs is integrated with the label-free homogeneous PEC sensing approach, and highly sensitive detection of VEGF 165 is obtained with a detection limit down to 33 fg/mL, superior or comparable to the previously reported values. Moreover, this approach displays outstanding specificity, and has been successfully used to detect VEGF 165 added in diluted serum samples. As far as we know, it is the first example to employ the peroxidase-like activity of MOFs in PEC biosensing, which may find potential application in bioanalysis and early disease diagnosis. (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

By combining the peroxidase-like activity of MOFs with label-free homogeneous PEC sensing, we developed a label-free homogeneous PEC aptasensor for the detection of VEGF 165. This method demonstrates high sensitivity, outstanding specificity, and can successfully detect VEGF 165 added in diluted serum samples.