Rational synthesis of FeWO4 nanozyme with sonopiezoelectric and co-catalytic activity for colorimetric detection of deferiprone

Abstract

Colorimetric sensing based on nanozyme has been extensively applied in the field of biosensing. The analysis time and detection sensitivity depend on the activity of nanozyme. At present, the methods of traditional regulating the activity of nanozyme mainly include internal and external regulation. However, it is still a challenge for internal and external stimuli to coordinate the regulation of nanozyme activity. Both piezoelectricity and co-catalysis can expedite the rate limiting step (Fe3+/Fe2+cycle) of the Fenton reaction hence facilitating the peroxidase-like (POD-like) activity of nanozyme. In this study, we synthesized FeWO4 nanorod that possess sonopiezoelectric and co-catalytic properties. The Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle of FeWO4 nanorods can be boosted by the internal Fe, W co-catalytic reaction and the external ultrasound stimuli generated e−. Deferiprone (DFP), a small molecule of iron chelating agent, is used clinically to chelate excess iron in thalassemia patients. It can specifically inhibit the POD-like activity of the iron-based nanozyme due to coordination with Fe. Based on the above principles, we constructed a colorimetric sensing platform based on FeWO4 nanozyme for colorimetric detection of DFP in urine of thalassemia patients. The linear range, limit of detection and recovery of the developed colorimetric sensing method based on FeWO4 nanozyme platform are 0.1–5 μM, 0.05 μM and 97.4 % − 105.4 %, respectively. This work not only promotes the development of the method to regulate the activity of nanozyme, but also provides a simple method for the monitoring of DFP.