Rapid
and robust sensing of nerve agent (NA) threats is necessary
for real-time field detection to facilitate timely countermeasures.
Unlike conventional phosphotriesterases employed for biocatalytic
NA detection, this work describes the use of a new, green, thermally
stable, and biocompatible zirconium metal–organic framework
(Zr-MOF) catalyst, MIP-202(Zr). The biomimetic Zr-MOF-based catalytic
NA recognition layer was coupled with a solid-contact fluoride ion-selective
electrode (F-ISE) transducer, for potentiometric detection of diisopropylfluorophosphate
(DFP), a F-containing G-type NA simulant. Catalytic DFP degradation
by MIP-202(Zr) was evaluated and compared to the established UiO-66-NH2 catalyst. The efficient catalytic DFP degradation with MIP-202(Zr)
at near-neutral pH was validated by 31P NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy
and potentiometric F-ISE and pH-ISE measurements. Activation of MIP-202(Zr)
using Soxhlet extraction improved the DFP conversion rate and afforded
a 2.64-fold improvement in total percent conversion over UiO-66-NH2. The exceptional thermal and storage stability of the MIP-202/F-ISE
sensor paves the way toward remote/wearable field detection of G-type
NAs in real-world environments. Overall, the green, sustainable, highly
scalable, and biocompatible nature of MIP-202(Zr) suggests the unexploited
scope of such MOF catalysts for on-body sensing applications toward
rapid on-site detection and detoxification of NA threats.