Citation: Jin-Ao Li, Nana Pan, Li Lu, Yifan Wei, Wenchang Hu, Zhiyang Zhang, Houda Amrani, Fang Huang, Xiaojuan Wang. Ligand-bridged nanoassemblies boost the peroxidase-mimicking activity of gold nanoclusters[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(1): 111806. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111806 shu

Ligand-bridged nanoassemblies boost the peroxidase-mimicking activity of gold nanoclusters

Jin-Ao Li ^a ,
Nana Pan ^b ,
Li Lu ^a ,
Yifan Wei ^a ,
Wenchang Hu ^a ,
Zhiyang Zhang ^a ,
Houda Amrani ^a ,
Fang Huang ^{a, *,} ,
Xiaojuan Wang ^{a, *,}

a.
State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
b.
Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China

fhuang@upc.edu.cn

xwang@upc.edu.cn

Received Date: 29 June 2025
Revised Date: 29 August 2025
Accepted Date: 8 September 2025
Available Online: 9 September 2025

Figures(4)

Rational design of nanozymes with enhanced catalytic efficiency remains a central challenge in the development of artificial enzymes. Herein, we report the construction of ultrasmall gold nanocluster-based nanoassemblies (Dp-AuNCs@Fe²⁺) through the coordination of Fe²⁺ ions by a dopa-containing peptidomimetic ligand (DpCDp). This nanoarchitecture simultaneously integrates catalytically active gold cores and redox-active Fe²⁺ centers, bridged by DpCDp to facilitate directional electron transfer. Comprehensive spectroscopic and kinetic analyses reveal that DpCDp promotes efficient charge migration from the Au core to surface-bound Fe²⁺, significantly enhancing H₂O₂-mediated peroxidase-like activity. Compared to bare Dp-AuNCs, Dp-AuNCs@Fe²⁺ display a 4.3-fold improvement in detection sensitivity, a 6.7-fold increase in catalytic efficiency, and markedly stronger hydroxyl radical generation. Mechanistically, this activity stems from a synergistic triad: direct H₂O₂ oxidation at gold surfaces, radical generation at Fe²⁺ sites, and DpCDp-facilitated electron shuttling. This work presents a robust strategy for nanozyme enhancement via electronic and structural co-engineering, offering valuable insights for the future design of bioinspired catalytic systems.
- Gold nanoclusters,
- Fe²⁺ coordination,
- Peptidomimetic ligand,
- Peroxidase-mimic nanozyme,
- Electron transfer
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