Ratiometric fluorescent sensor for sensitive detection of 3-methoxytyramine based on hydrogen-bonded organic framework

We herein realize the first example of using a microporous HOF material HOF-BTB with high specific surface area for ratiometric fluorescent detection of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas tumor biomarker 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT). HOF-BTB exhibits rapid, highly accurative and sensitive detection of 3-MT, with the detection limit as low as 46 ​nM. To the best of our knowledge, this HOF material achieves the best detection limit value among luminescent sensors, and is comparable to the detection limit of high-performance liquid chromatography or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.