Current uric acid (UA) detection methods require expensive instrumentation and complex sample preparation, limiting their accessibility despite UA’s importance as a biomarker for metabolic disorders. There is a need for point-of-care testing solutions that combine sensitivity with user-friendly operation. Metal-organic frameworks with peroxidase-like activity offer promising properties for colorimetric sensing, while paper-based analytical devices provide cost-effective platforms for diagnostics. This study coupled a smartphone-based colorimetric platform with Co-TCPP(Fe) nanosheets to create a portable UA detection device. Co-TCPP(Fe) nanosheets help create hydroxyl radicals that react with TMB, resulting in a blue substance that can be measured at 652 nm. The detection technique uses uricase to oxidize UA, producing H₂O₂. Under ideal circumstances, the system showed a linear detection range of 0.5–45 μM (R2 = 0.984) with a detection limit of 0.447 μM. Recovery rates of 100.08–102.8% were obtained through validation using actual urine samples, and stability was maintained for more than 28 days with little interference from common drugs. For UA detection, our smartphone-integrated technology provides a quick, simple, and affordable substitute for conventional laboratory techniques. Through RGB color processing, the paper-based device makes quantitative analysis possible, increasing the accessibility of routine UA monitoring in environments with limited resources. In addition to creating a flexible framework that can be adjusted to additional clinically significant indicators, the approach has implications for enhancing the early diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases linked to increased UA levels.

Kermue Vasco Jarnda has completed his PhD at the age of 31 years from the XiangYa School of Public Health, Central South University in 2025. Dr. Kermue Vasco Jarnda is also a dedicated scholar and researcher committed to advancing science and community development. With expertise spanning health inspection and quarantine and maternal and child health, he has contributed to innovative research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. Dr. Jarnda is recognized for his passion for mentorship, fostering young professionals’ growth, and promoting evidence-based solutions to pressing health challenges. His academic journey reflects resilience, curiosity, and excellence, while his professional work demonstrates a deep commitment to service and impact. Beyond research, he actively engages in outreach, bridging academia and society to inspire sustainable progress and meaningful change.