Protein‐Directed Metal Oxide Nanoflakes with Tandem Enzyme‐Like Characteristics: Colorimetric Glucose Sensing Based on One‐Pot Enzyme‐Free Cascade Catalysis

Abstract

It is difficult and significant to realize the aim of “one‐pot” and “nonenzyme” for traditional colorimetric detection of blood glucose. The synthesis of nanomaterials with 2D morphology is also a challenge for the bovine serum albumin (BSA)‐directed method. Here, the BSA‐directed synthesis avenue for metal oxide with 2D nanomorphology is developed. MnO 2 nanoflakes (NFs) with controllable morphology can be obtained by changing the synthesis conditions. Fortunately, not only is the glucose oxidase (GO x)‐like nanozyme (MnO 2 NFs) discovered, but MnO 2 NFs also show dual enzyme activities (GO x‐like activity and peroxidase‐like activity) in similar pH range. That is to say, a “tandem nanozyme” (nanomaterial with tandem enzyme‐like characteristics) is presented here. Further, the one‐pot nonenzymatic strategy is proposed for the colorimetric detection of glucose, where the oxidation of glucose and the colorimetric detection of H 2 O 2 are simultaneously conducted under the catalysis of the single nanozyme (MnO 2 NFs). The method shows high sensitivity, low limit of detection, and short detection time, due to the proximity effect and in situ reaction. The as‐synthesized 2D tandem nanozyme expands the species of nanozymes, and the proposed strategy breaks traditional colorimetric detection process, accomplishing the purposes of “one‐pot” and “nonenzyme” in the true sense.