An All-in-One Au@CeO₂ Nanozyme Platform for Synergistic Detection and Photocatalytic Conversion of Uric Acid.

Abstract

Precise monitoring and regulation of uric acid in synovial fluid is crucial for understanding uric acid-related pathological environments. Here, we construct and evaluate a bifunctional Au@CeO₂ nanorod nanozyme platform that integrates ultrasensitive electrochemical sensing with photoelectrochemically driven uric acid degradation. The core-shell architecture couples plasmonic Au with catalytically active CeO₂, facilitating detection of uric acid down to sub-nanomolar levels and effective catalytic degradation via ROS (^*OH, ^*OO^-, and ¹O₂). In situ Raman, EPR, and DFT studies provide insights into enhanced charge transfer and catalytic mechanisms at the heterointerface. Furthermore, the platform demonstrates coupled uric acid sensing and degradation performance in a simulated synovial fluid environment. Overall, this study provides a proof-of-concept demonstration of a nanozyme-based electrochemical platform for integrated uric acid sensing and regulation under laboratory conditions and establishes a foundation for future investigations toward localized biofluid monitoring and modulation.