Heterometallic PdCu3 nanozyme-based dual-functional catalyst for uric acid degradation and sensing

While uricase enzyme therapy for gout effectively reduces uric acid (UA) levels, it can lead to the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) within the organs, potentially inducing cellular oxidative stress and additional health issues. Therefore, addressing the degradation of UA along with the consumption of H 2 O 2 is a critical challenge to be resolved. This study reports a flower-shaped heterometallic PdCu 3 nanozyme with exceptional dual enzymatic activity, mimicking both uricase and peroxidase to effectively degrade UA and consume H 2 O 2 . The heterometallic PdCu 3 nanozyme demonstrated significant efficacy in degrading UA within a high degradation rate of ∼77.0 %. Compared to conditions where only Cu 2 O or Pd nanozyme is present, the degradation efficiency is enhanced by factors ranging from 1.1 to 3.8 times. The PdCu 3 -H 2 O 2 –3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine chromogenic system was developed for the quantitative detection of UA, leveraging ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and smartphone-based colorimetry. Compared with the reporting methods, this study has the following advantages: a wider linear range, shorter reaction time, and no requirement for specific temperature conditions, allowing it to be conducted at room temperature. To validate the practical reliability of the detection method, spiking recovery experiments in human serum were performed, yielding a recovery rate of 98.1 %–101.4 % with a relative standard deviation of less than 5 %, confirming good precision and accuracy in complex biological matrices. This study exhibits the potential of PdCu 3 nanozymes in biomedical applications, offering potential as a candidate for further exploration in biomedical research.