Biomimetic mineralization of metal-organic frameworks as protective coatings for biomacromolecules

Abstract

Enhancing the robustness of functional biomacromolecules is a critical challenge in biotechnology, which if addressed would enhance their use in pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and biostorage. Here we report a novel method, inspired by natural biomineralization processes, which provides unprecedented protection of biomacromolecules by encapsulating them within a class of porous materials termed metal-organic frameworks. We show that proteins, enzymes and DNA rapidly induce the formation of protective metal-organic framework coatings under physiological conditions by concentrating the framework building blocks and facilitating crystallization around the biomacromolecules. The resulting biocomposite is stable under conditions that would normally decompose many biological macromolecules. For example, urease and horseradish peroxidase protected within a metal-organic framework shell are found to retain bioactivity after being treated at 80 °C and boiled in dimethylformamide (153 °C), respectively. This rapid, low-cost biomimetic mineralization process gives rise to new possibilities for the exploitation of biomacromolecules.

Magnetic ZIF-8/cellulose/Fe3O4 nanocomposite: preparation, characterization, and enzyme immobilization

“…Then 2-methylimidazole (160 mM, 2 mL) was added into the mixture and stirred for 3 h (Liang et al 2015).…”

X-Shaped ZIF-8 for Immobilization Rhizomucor miehei Lipase via Encapsulation and Its Application toward Biodiesel Production

“…The main summits denoted the increase in intensity for pure ZIF-8 at 2θ = 10.98°, 15.11°, 17.04°, 18.01°, 21.76°, 27.78°, and 29.05°, which corresponded to the 1833, 1840, 2800, 3710, 1388, 1504, and 2245 plates of the crystal face structure. In contrast, the intensity of lipase@ZIF-8 decreased due to the diminished distance between the atomic layers in the crystalline material and the decrease in crystallinity of RML@ZIF-8 after modification [25,26]. This result shows that the modification of the morphological properties of ZIF-8 resulted from the encapsulation of biomacromolecules (RML) (Figure 4).…”

Nickel(ii) metal–organic frameworks with N,N′-di(4-pyridyl)-naphthalenediimide ligands: influence of secondary building unit geometry on dimensionality and framework dimensions

“…Evolving from the original concepts of the building-block approach, the field has reached a position where a large variety of framework materials are being applied to a myriad of applications. 1,2 Thus, in addition to studies that exploit the porosity of MOFs for gas storage 3 developments have been made in a number of other areas including biological applications, [4][5][6] conductivity, 7 crystalline sponges, 8 and as matrices for probing chemical reactions. 9 As a result of the modular, building-block approach it is possible to incorporate specific components into the framework that impart specific properties on the resulting material.…”