Nanozyme Sensor Arrays for Detecting Versatile Analytes from Small Molecules to Proteins and Cells

Abstract

Nanozymes have emerged as promising alternatives to overcome the high cost and low stability of natural enzymes. Nanozymes with peroxidase-like activities have been studied to construct versatile biosensors by using specific biorecognition ligands (such as enzymes, antibodies, and aptamers) or molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). However, the use of bioligands compromises the high stability and low cost promise of nanozymes, while the MIPs may not be applicable to multiplex detection. To address these limitations, here we constructed the nanozyme sensor arrays based on peroxidase-like Pt, Ru, and Ir nanozymes. The cross-reactive nanozyme sensor arrays were successfully used for the detection of biothiols and proteins as well as the discrimination of cancer cells because of the differential nonspecific interactions between the components of the sensor arrays and the analytes. The usefulness of the nanozyme sensor arrays was further validated by the detection of blind unknown samples, where 28 of 30 biothiols and 42 of 45 proteins were correctly identified. Moreover, the practical application of the nanozyme sensor arrays was demonstrated by the successful discrimination of biothiols in serum and proteins in human urine.