Design of a dual-signal sensing platform for d-penicillamine based on UiO-66-NH2 MOFs and APBA@Alizarin Red

Herein, we designed a diversified sensing platform for d-penicillamine based on amino-functionalized Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (UiO-66-NH2 MOFs) and 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA)@Alizarin Red (ARS). The boronic acid group of 3-aminophenylboronic acid could react with Alizarin Red to form an APBA@ARS complex with a yellow fluorescence emission at 580 nm and ultraviolet absorption at 435 nm. APBA@ARS can greatly quench the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs at 450 nm via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). When copper ions were present in the reaction system of APBA and Alizarin Red, the copper ions could complex with Alizarin Red to prevent the generation of APBA@ARS, and the absorption of Cu@ARS at 530 nm occurred. Thus, the absorbance of APBA@ARS at 435 nm declined, restoring the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs. Nevertheless, when d-penicillamine and copper ions coexist in the APBA and Alizarin Red reaction system, the copper ions would complex with the sulfhydryl group of d-penicillamine and no longer hinder the generation of APBA@ARS, and the fluorescence of UiO-66-NH2 MOFs is quenched again. Meanwhile, the absorbance of APBA@ARS at 435 nm enhanced and the absorbance at 530 nm decreased. Thus, a fluorescence and colorimetric dual-signal sensing platform was constructed for d-penicillamine detection, which could detect d-penicillamine in the 1-20 mu M and 2-50 mu M ranges with the limit of detection (LOD) values of 0.46 mu M and 1.38 mu M, respectively. Furthermore, this sensing platform could also realize the intelligent RGB detection via mobile phones due to the obvious color change of the reaction system.

Automated summary

A diversified sensing platform for d-penicillamine detection was developed based on amino-functionalized Zr-based metal-organic frameworks and 3-aminophenylboronic acid@Alizarin Red. This platform enabled accurate detection of d-penicillamine in the micro-molar concentration range through fluorescence and colorimetric dual-signal detection.