Bimetallic-Based Colorimetric Aptasensor for the Quantitative Analysis of Ampicillin Using Catalytic Activity of ZrFe Metal–Organic Framework and Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase-Assisted Signal Amplification
摘要
In this study, we developed a novel colorimetric aptasensor aimed at the quantitative assessment of ampicillin (AMP) by utilizing peroxidase-mimicking activity of ZrFe metal–organic framework (MOF) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated DNA extension, and silica nanoparticles. Silica nanoparticles serve as a stable platform for immobilizing AMP aptamer, enhancing the sensor’s sensitivity. The operational mechanism of this aptasensor relies on the adsorption of elongated complementary strand (CS) on ZrFe MOF followed by modification in the pseudo-peroxidase activity of MOF-based nanozymes of ZrFe. The existence of AMP leads to the introduction of CS into the supernatant and TdT-induced elongation of CS, which subsequently alters the catalytic performance of the ZrFe MOF due to the adsorption of the extended CS onto the surface of this bimetallic MOF. Consequently, the color of the solution becomes pale yellow owing to the reduction of the catalytic performance of MOF for the o-phenylenediamine (OPD) peroxidation reaction. This sensing technique achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 34.9 pM with a linear range between 100 pM and 1 nM. Overall, the highly selective aptasensor presents a promising solution for detecting AMP in various environments, including food products and biological samples.