In situ fabricated gold nanostars on hydrogel beads as photo-oxidase mimics for rapid and sustainable POCT of uric acid

Abstract

Synthetic enzyme mimics surpass their natural counterparts in terms of stability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, making them highly valuable for catalytic applications. Gold nanomaterials, particularly gold nanostars, have emerged as promising enzyme mimetic nanocatalysts due to their enhanced light interaction and superior catalytic efficiency. In this study, gold nanostars grown in situ on the surface of core–shell hydrogel beads exhibited specific oxidase-like activity when exposed to light. Photoexcitation of gold nanostars generates singlet oxygen through the interaction of positive holes and superoxide radicals, resulting in photo-oxidase-like activity. Attaching the gold nanostars to the hydrogel bead surface prevented catalytic activity loss caused by agglomeration, resulting in a marked improvement in catalytic stability. This stability is evident from the sustained catalytic activity of the hydrogel bead-embedded gold nanostars, even after 60 days of prolonged incubation in an aqueous medium, and their strong catalytic performance across multiple reaction cycles. Leveraging this photo-oxidase-like activity, a point-of-care testing (POCT) setup is developed for highly sensitive uric acid detection. The system achieved a remarkable detection limit of 0.9 μM and demonstrated excellent accuracy in blood serum and urine sample analyses. Furthermore, the integration of smartphone technology facilitated rapid and convenient on-site testing, bridging the gap between laboratory settings and real-world applications. This approach offers a practical and sustainable solution for efficient and accurate uric acid monitoring in diverse settings.