Enzyme-Encapsulated Protein Trap Engineered Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Biomineral Probes for Non-Invasive Prostate Cancer Surveillance

A paper-based naked-eye recognition assay with enzyme-encapsulated protein engineered metal-organic framework-derived biominerals is developed for direct quantification of sarcosine in urine samples for screening of prostate cancer individuals. The detection strategy stems from the successful construction of a cascade response model, which involves the introduction of a cascade enzymatic catalytic reaction on Pt nanoparticles (NPs)-loaded porous CeO2 by integrating a sarcosine oxidase as a special recognition unit and a chromogenic substrate as a signal molecule reporter. Pt NPs-loaded CeO2 is subjected to a one-step thermal treatment based on multilayered mesoporous Ce-based metal-organic framework, and the calcined CeO2 exhibits the same distinct porous graded structure. Importantly, introduction of Pt NPs sharply enhances the peroxidase-like activity of CeO2, which is considered to be caused by the difference in the adsorption behavior of hydrogen peroxide on the CeO2 surface and Pt/CeO2 obtained by density functional theory calculations. On the basis of this, the probe is used on a mass-producible paper-based working platform and 3D-printed device to specifically screen for minor differences in sarcosine between urine samples from cancer patients and normal individuals. Enzyme-assisted cascade catalytic reaction can be extended by replacing different recognition units for multiple analytes.

Automated summary

A paper-based naked-eye recognition assay with enzyme-encapsulated protein engineered metal-organic framework-derived biominerals is developed for direct quantification of sarcosine in urine samples for screening of prostate cancer individuals. The detection strategy involves the construction of a cascade enzymatic catalytic reaction model on Pt nanoparticles (NPs)-loaded porous CeO2, which integrates a sarcosine oxidase as a recognition unit and a chromogenic substrate as a signal molecule reporter. This method shows potential in screening for minor differences in sarcosine between cancer patients and normal individuals.