Point-of-Care Assay of Alkaline Phosphatase Enzymatic Activity Using a Thermometer or Temperature Discoloration Sticker as Readout

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a significant biomarker in clinical diagnostics, and the abnormal level of ALP enzyme in serum is closely related to various diseases such as bone or liver cancer, bone metastases, and extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Herein a simple and portable photothermal biosensor was developed for sensitive detection of ALP enzyme based on the formation of polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles using a thermometer or temperature discoloration sticker as readout. A MnO2 nanosheet was first prepared using a novel one-pot strategy which was operationally simple and not overly time-consuming. Then dopamine (DA) was quickly polymerized into PDA nanoparticles in the presence of the MnO2 nanosheet. When the model analyte ALP was present, the substrate 2-phospho-l-ascorbic acid trisodium salt (AAP) was catalytically hydrolyzed into l-ascorbic acid (AA), resulting in the inhibition of the formation of the PDA nanoparticles owing to the fact that the MnO2 nanosheet was reduced to Mn2+ by the generated AA. Thus, a portable biosensor based on the photothermal properties of PDA nanoparticles for ALP enzyme detection was established with a detection limit as low as 0.1 U/L (thermometer) and 1 U/L (temperature discoloration sticker). In addition, it also showed excellent sensing performance for the ALP assay in human serum. Such a simple, label-free, cost-effective, and sensitive assay could exhibit real potential application for ALP detection and early diagnosis, especially in developing countries or remote regions.