Colorimetric Sensor Array for Human Semen Identification Designed by Coupling Zirconium Metal–Organic Frameworks with DNA-Modified Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

Rapid and accurate identification of semen is critical for male infertility diagnosis and the arrangement of personalized treatment. However, the complexity and diversity of samples impose lots of restrictions in detection. To solve this problem, we propose a colorimetric sensor array in this work by coupling zirconium metal–organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) with single-stranded-DNA-decorated gold nanoparticles (ssDNA-AuNPs) for human semen identification. Because of the coordination interactions between the Zr6 clusters and the DNA phosphate backbone, as well as π–π stacking and H-bonding, Zr-MOFs can absorb and precipitate AuNPs with the aid of single-stranded DNA. What’s more, addition of semen samples in the test solution, proteins, or other contents in the samples will affect the co-precipitation of Zr-MOFs and ssDNA-AuNPs. Subsequently, the color of the supernatant will change and a method to identify human semen can be developed. Further studies reveal that the method can completely detect different semen cases based on the differences in inclusions, demonstrating the characteristics of simplicity, feasibility, and sensitivity in the application of male infertility diagnosis.

Stable DNA Aptamer–Metal–Organic Framework as Horseradish Peroxidase Mimic for Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Serum

“…First of all, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the structure and morphology of the MOF material PCN-222 (Fe), as shown in Figure 1 A. Unlike the previously synthesized sphere MOF [ 29 ], this time, the obtained MOF material had a rod-like structure with a length of 400–600 nm and a width of about 100 nm. To further verify the ingredients of PCN-222 (Fe), the samples were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD, Figure 1 B).…”

Emerging Multimodel Zirconia Nanosystems for High‐Performance Biomedical Applications

“…The diversity and complexity of samples have imposed many restrictions for accurate and rapid semen identification to diagnose infertility in males. In 2019, Sun et al [ 288 ] introduced a novel colorimetric sensor for accurate and quick identification of human semen by coupling Zr‐MOFs with ssDNA‐decorated Au NPs (ssDNA–AuNPs) (Figure 15C). Zr 6 clusters coordinately interact with the phosphate groups of DNA and also form H bonding and π–π stacking.…”

Applications of Functional Metal‐Organic Frameworks in Biosensors

“…[ 17 ] Other DNA‐labelled substances can also be assembled onto the surface of MOFs such as ssDNA‐tagged antibody [ 18 ] and ssDNA decorated AuNPs. [ 19 ] DNA/MOF nanocomposites have been broadly used in the development of biosensors as various sensitive materials and signal amplifying tags. As shown in Figure 1 , dsDNAs were functionalized onto the surface of MOFs via adsorption effect and electroactive dyes (MB and TMB) were capped into the cavities of MOFs.…”