Source  Chemical Engineering Journal

Published  APR 2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.174821

IF  13.2

Abstract  Multifunctional signal markers are essential for enhancing the performance of lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs), including sensitivity, reliability, and anti-interference capability. In this study, we synthesized PtPdRu nanoflowers (NFs) that exhibit prominent peroxidase-like (POD-like) activity, primarily mediated by singlet oxygen (1O2). PtPdRu NFs showed a 23.7-fold higher specific enzyme-like activity than Pt NFs. Mechanism studies revealed a relay catalysis process in which Ru incorporation lowers the energy barrier for hydroxyl radical (& sdot;OH) generation on Pt, while Pd promotes the conversion of & sdot;OH to 1O2.A portable, adapter-integrated cassette was manufactured via 3D printing to construct a multimodal detection platform based on PtPdRu NFs-LFIA. Using thiamethoxam (THI) as a model analyte, the platform achieved remarkable detection limits of 0.13 ng/mL by quantitative LFIA (Q-LFIA) and 0.03 ng/mL by catalytic colorimetry (C-colorimetry). The method yielded satisfactory recoveries and relative standard deviations (RSDs), and its practical application was further verified through the analysis of actual cowpea samples. This work not only elucidates the potential relay catalysis mechanism of PtPdRu NFs but also provides an innovative portable platform for ultrasensitive detection of pesticide residues.