Fabrication of superior laccase-mimicking enzyme with catalytic oxidative and photothermal properties for anti-bacterial and dual-mode glutathione S-transferase monitoring

A novel laccase mimic enzyme Cu–Mn with excellent photothermal properties was firstly prepared via a combination of hydrothermal and in situ synthesis. Cu–Mn nanozymes could catalyze the typical laccase substrate 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DP) to generate the red quinone imine. Further, loading the MnO2 nanosheets with photothermal properties, Cu–Mn nanozymes possessed not only excellent laccase catalytic activity, but also high photothermal conversion efficiency. The presence of glutathione S-transferase (GST) recovered the glutathione (GSH)-induced weakness of the laccase activity and photothermal properties of Cu–Mn. Hence, a GST enzyme-regulated dual-mode sensing strategy was established based on Cu–Mn nanozymes. The detection limits of GST monitoring based on colorimetric and photothermal methods were 0.092 and 0.087 U/L with response times of 20 min and 8 min, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed method enabled the measuring of GST levels in human serum and was successfully employed in the primary evaluation of hepatitis patients. Another attraction, the impressive photothermal behavior also endowed the Cu–Mn nanozymes with promising antimicrobial properties, which exhibited significant antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus). Unsurprisingly, multifunctional Cu–Mn nanozymes certainly explore new paths in biochemical analysis and antimicrobial applications.