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Background: The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an important cancer biomarker that is commonly utilized in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The development of a PSA determination technique that is rapid, simple, and inexpensive, in addition to highly accurate, sensitive, and selective, remains a formidable obstacle. Methods: In this study, we developed a practical biosensor based on Zn(II) metal–organic framework nanoparticles (Zn-MOFs-NPs). Many spectroscopic and microanalytical tools are used to determine the structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of the prepared MOF. Results: According to the results, Zn-MOFs-NPs are sensitive to PSA, selective to an extremely greater extent, and stable in terms of chemical composition. Furthermore, the Zn-MOFs-NPs did not exhibit any interferences from other common analytes that might cause interference. The detection limit for PSA was calculated and was 0.145 fg/mL throughout a wide linear concentration range (0.1 fg/mL–20 pg/mL). Conclusions: Zn-MOFs-NPs were successfully used as a growing biosensor for the monitoring and measurement of PSA in biological real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) quantification as an early test for liver cancer diagnosis competing with other interfering analytes and factors based on a novel nano‐magnetic metal–organic framework (MOF) was investigated. The novel nano‐magnetic MOF was synthesized via a simple preparation method, and characterized using various techniques. The X‐ray photoelectron spectrum of the nano‐magnetic MOF shows Cu 2p, O 1s, N 1s and C 1s peaks that evidence the presence of these elements in the sample without any impurities. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images show the nano‐magnetic MOF with average size between 22 and 43 nm. The results of a photoluminescence study show that the nano‐magnetic MOF exhibits strong emission at 418 nm after excitation at 354 nm. Moreover, a Stern–Völmer graph shows a linear calibration curve over an AFP concentration range 1.0–520 ng ml−1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.997, detection limit of 1.18 ng ml−1 and quantitation limit of 3.58 ng ml−1. According to the marked quenching of the photoluminescence intensity of the nano‐magnetic MOF using various concentrations of AFP, it was successfully used as a biosensor for AFP in serum samples collected from hepatitis patients in addition to healthy males and females. The quenching mechanism was well studied, and found to be a dynamic type. The present work offers a simple, low‐cost, room‐temperature and rapid technique, being non‐time‐consuming, highly accurate, selective and highly sensitive compared with most published methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]