Multifunctional metal-organic frameworks-mediated colorimetric/photothermal immunosensor for highly sensitivity detection of dibutyl phthalate

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a priority pollutant among phthalic acid esters (PAEs) exhibits significant reproductive and respiratory toxicity. In this study, a multifunctional metal-organic frameworks-mediated colorimetric/photothermal immunosensor was established for the quantitative detection of DBP. Firstly, a highly sensitive and specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated 3A5, was prepared with a sensitivity IC 50 value of 16.29 ng/mL. Secondly, a metal-organic framework material (ZrO₂@C) was synthesized via a two-step pyrolysis process of UiO-66. Subsequently, a multifunctional immunoprobe was prepared for the detection of DBP. Using ZrO₂@C-based colorimetric and photothermal dual-signal immunosensor ensured the accuracy of the detection results, as the multiple of these signals effectively guaranteed the reliability of the results. The limit of detection (LOD) for the dual signal was 0.766 ng/mL (colorimetric signal) and 0.465 ng/mL (photothermal signal). In conclusion, this work presented a novel and feasible approach for the development of multifunctional nanomaterials for the fabrication of immunosensors.