A Co-Based Mof for Rapid and Facile Fluorescent Detection of Dipicolinic Acid As an Anthrax Biomarker Publisher



Ghalhari M R ; Yaghmaeian K ; Ghanizadeh G
Source: Results in Chemistry Published:2026

Abstract

The rapid and accurate detection of Bacillus anthracis in drinking water is crucial from a public health and safety perspective. This study investigated the development of a cobalt-based metal-organic framework (Co-MOF) as a highly sensitive and selective fluorescence-based sensing platform for detecting dipicolinic acid (DPA), the unique biomarker of Bacillus anthracis . The Co-MOF was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and characterized using FESEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, and TGA. Analytical evaluation demonstrated excellent performance, exhibiting a linear range from 0 to 100 μM (R2 = 0.98), with a remarkably low limit of detection of 0.089 μM and a limit of quantification of 0.271 μM. The effect of various parameters was investigated, and the results showed that the best detection occurred at pH of 7, Co-MOF concentration of 50 mg/L, contact time of 1 min, and DPA concentration of 50 μM. Also, the Co-MOF exhibited high selectivity for DPA against common drinking water ions and demonstrated storage stability for up to 90 days at room temperature. To assess practical applicability, a comprehensive diagnostic validation study was conducted, in which the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the Co-MOF for detecting Bacillus anthracis were 92%, 95.6%, 95.8%, 91.6%, and 93.75%, respectively. Based on these results, the synthesized Co-MOF can be used as a rapid, cost-effective, and highly reliable tool for sensing Bacillus anthracis in real water samples, with good selectivity and stability. © 2026 The Authors.