Addressing the inhibition of Au–S bonding on glucose oxidase-like activity: BSA@Au/MoS₂–COOH for tandem enzyme-based colorimetric detection of glucose

Colorimetric/surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual-mode detection offers richer detection information and higher accuracy. However, achieving “non-enzymatic” one-step catalytic colorimetric/SERS glucose detection using molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂)-based nanozymes remains challenging. Here, we propose a tandem enzyme system, BAMC, composed of bovine serum albumin-modified gold nanoparticles (BSA@Au) integrated with carboxylated molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂–COOH). This approach overcomes the inhibition of glucose oxidase (GOx)-like activity caused by Au–S bonding, enabling dual-mode colorimetric/SERS glucose detection with detection limits (LOD) of 10⁻⁶ M and 10⁻⁷ M, respectively. For non-invasive glucose detection, the BAMC system demonstrated excellent stability in saliva and urine samples. The results were highly consistent with commercial glucose detection methods, with errors controlled at 19.67 % and 6.66 %, meeting the World Health Organization ’s standard of less than 20 % error for glucometers. The BAMC system offers a novel approach for non-invasive glucose detection and paves the way for developing other nanozymes.