High-performance, synergistically catalytic luminescent nanozyme for the degradation and detection of endocrine-disrupting chemical diethylstilbestrol

A synergistically catalytic luminescent nanozyme was designed and synthesized for the degradation and enzymatic fluorescence detection of diethylstilbestrol, an endocrine-disrupting environmental pollutant. Because of the integration of cocatalytic Cu2+ ion and CeO2 particle, luminescent Tb3+ ion, and functional ligand dipicolinic acid through flexible metal-organic framework structure, this nanozyme has not only the dual functions of luminescence and multienzyme such as laccase and horseradish peroxidase but also synergistically catalytic effect via a regeneration of Cu2+ oxidized by CeO2. The synergistically catalytic effect of nanozyme greatly enhances the degradation of diethylstilbestrol. The resultants sensitized the luminescence of Tb3+ ions, which was used to sense the pM level of diethylstilbestrol in environmental samples. Such a high-performance catalytic luminescent nanozyme can be used to replace natural enzymes for the enzyme-based degradations and ultrasensitive assays. The strategy of constructing artificial enzymes directly from functional units provides a new way for developing fit-for-purpose multifunctional artificial enzymes.