Aptamer tuned nanozyme activity of nickel-metal-organic framework for sensitive electrochemical aptasensing of tetracycline residue

Abstract

It is urgently needed to develop high-performance method for tetracycline (TC) analysis to meet the growing concerns about food safety. Herein, a MOF of Ni²⁺-2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (Ni-HHTP) with peroxidase activity has been prepared and coated on a screen printing electrode, followed by non-covalent adsorption of tetracycline aptamer (TC-Apt) through the π-stacking. The spectroscopic and electrochemical assays show that TC-Apt can effectively enhance the nanozyme activity of Ni-HHTP using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)/H₂O₂ as the probe. Upon binding with TC, the configuration of TC-Apt is changed and desorbs from the Ni-HHTP, resulting in the decrease of the nanozyme activity of aptasensor. Based on this principle, the target TC can be analyzed in concentrations ranging from 10 pM to 1.0 μM, with a detection limit of 1.9 pM. The aptsensor is also applicable for TC analysis in fresh Ctenopharyngodon idella meat and milk, which provides a new approach for TC residue monitoring in food.

Keywords: Electrochemical sensing; Food safety; Nanozyme; Ni-HHTP; Nucleic acid aptamers; Tetracycline.