Tb(III) functionalized MOF based self-calibrating sensor integrated with logic gate operation for efficient epinephrine detection in serum

By anchoring Tb3+ ions on its free carboxyl groups of the nanocaged NiMOF, a dual-emission self-calibrating sensor of Tb3+@NiMOF was fabricated through coordination post-synthetic modification (PSM) strategy. With Tb3+ ions as the secondary fluorescent signal and sensing active sites, Tb3+@NiMOF presents great potentials in visually and efficiently monitoring EPI in serum, with high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response, excellent recyclable, and the low detection limit (LOD, 3.06 ng/mL). Furthermore, a tandem combinational logic gate based intelligent detection system was constructed to improve the practicability and convenience of epinephrine (EPI) detection in serum by comparing the light emitted colour with the series standard colour cards preset in the smartphone. This work provides a promising approach of developing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based self-calibrating sensors for intelligent detection of bioactive molecules.