Bovine serum albumin-derived poly-l-glutamic acid-functionalized graphene quantum dots embedded UiO-66-NH2 MOFs as a fluorescence ‘On-Off-On’ magic gate for para-aminohippuric acid sensing

Schematic diagram for sensing PAH using PLGA-fGQDs@UiO-66-NH2 MOFs nanoprobe. [Display omitted] •Para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) is a key marker for renal disease diagnosis.•Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are derived from bovine serum albumin via the hydrothermal method.•The first report on poly-l-glutamic acid-functionalized GQDs embedded in UiO-66-NH2 MOFs for PAH sensing.•The complex formation of gallium ions (Ga3+) and PAH carboxylic functionality (PAH-Ga3+complex) offers the fluorescence recovery of the nanoprobe.•The PLGA-fGQDs@UiO-66-NH2-MOFs-Ga3+ is a novel, eco-friendly, stable, sensitive, selective, and reproducible sensory system. Evaluating para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) is emerging as a promising biomarker for the diagnostics of renal disease and other kidney-related illnesses. The present study aims to develop novel bovine serum albumin-derived poly-l-glutamic acid (PLGA) functionalized graphene quantum dots (PLGA-fGQDs) embedded in UiO-66-NH2 metal–organic frameworks (PLGA-fGQDs@UiO-66-NH2 MOFs) for monitoring of PAH. Initially, GQDs were achieved from bovine serum albumin (green precursor) via the single-step hydrothermal method. Here, functionalization with PLGA offers a tremendous increment in optical properties of GQDs. Then, highly luminescent UiO-66-NH2 MOFs were achieved using zirconium tetrachloride (ZrCl4) and 2-Aminoterephthalic acid (2-ATA) as a metal ion source and organic linker. Here, surface modification of GQDs with PLGA offered high quantum yield (QY), and responsiveness. Also, luminous UiO-66-NH2 MOFs afford a wide surface area for decorating of PLGA-fGQDs. The addition of gallium ions (Ga3+) into the probe solution resulted in fluorescence quenching (Turn-Off) whereas the incorporation of PAH resulted in fluorescence recovery (Turn-On). It is because of interaction with carboxylic functionality of PAH to Ga3+ followed by Ga-PAH complex formation. Herein, the wide concentration range and lowest limit of detection (LOD) were found to be 10 ng/mL to 900 ng/mL and 15.88 ng/mL, respectively. The specificity and real-time analysis in artificial urine validated the real-time adoption of a sensor for PAH detection. As well, it demonstrated good intraday/interday precision, stability analysis, and repeatability. In near future, the bundled illuminating PLGA-fGQDs@UiO-66-NH2 MOFs nanoprobe will be an attractive preference for tracking PAH in clinical specimens.