Enantioselective Target Transport-Mediated Nanozyme Decomposition for the Identification of Reducing Enantiomers in Asymmetric Nanochannel Arrays

Enantioselective identification of chiral molecules is regarded as one of the key issues in biological and medical sciences because of their configuration-dependent effects on biological systems. In this study, we developed an electrochemical platform based on a tandem recognition-reaction zone design in TiO2 nanochannels for the specific recognition of reducing enantiomers. In this system, MIL-125(Ti) Ti-metal-organic frameworks, in situ grown in TiO2 nanochannels, provided a homochiral recognition environment via postmodification with L-tartaric acid (L-TA); MnO2 nanosheets possessing both glucose oxidase (GOD)-and peroxidase (POD)-mimicking activities served as the target-reactive zone at the end of the nanochannels. The use of penicillamine (Pen) enantiomers as model-reducing targets facilitated the passage of D Pen through the homochiral recognition zone, owing to its lower affinity with L-TA. The passed Pen molecules reached the responsive zone and induced a target concentration-dependent MnO2 disassembly. Such target recognition event impaired the cascade GOD-and POD-like activities of MnO2. Combining the enantioselectivity of the recognition nanochannels with the cascade enzyme-like activity of MnO2 toward glucose and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate), the quantitative identification of L- and D-Pen was achieved through the changes in transmembrane ionic current induced by the generated charged products. This recognition-reaction zone design paves an effective way for developing a promising electrochemical platform for the identification of reducing enantiomers with improved selectivity and sensitivity.

Automated summary

In this study, an electrochemical platform based on TiO2 nanochannels was developed for the specific recognition of reducing enantiomers. Through a recognition-reaction zone design, combined with the chiral recognition environment and the enzyme-like activity of nanosheets, quantitative identification of L- and D-Pen was achieved.