Received 17 Mar 2015 | Accepted 20 Apr 2015 | Published 4 Jun 2015 | Kang Liang, Raffaele Ricco, Cara M. Doherty, Mark J. Styles, Stephen Bell, Nigel Kirby, Stephen Mudie, David Haylock, Anita J. Hill, Christian J. Doonan & Paolo Falcaro
The article reports a novel method for enhancing the robustness of functional biomacromolecules by encapsulating them within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through a biomimetic mineralization process inspired by natural biomineralization. This method allows for the rapid and low-cost encapsulation of proteins, enzymes, and DNA, which are then protected from biological, thermal, and chemical degradation while maintaining their bioactivity. The resulting biocomposites are stable under conditions that would typically decompose many biological macromolecules. For example, enzymes like urease and horseradish peroxidase retain their activity after being treated at high temperatures and in organic solvents. The study demonstrates that the biomimetic mineralization of MOFs forms a nanoporous shell that encapsulates the biomacromolecules, providing unprecedented protection. The versatility of this approach is highlighted by its successful application to various MOFs, including ZIF-8, HKUST-1, Eu/Tb-BDC, and MIL-88A. The protective properties of the MOF coatings are further confirmed by their ability to maintain enzyme activity even under extreme conditions, outperforming other commonly used protective coatings such as CaCO3 and mesoporous silica. Additionally, the release of encapsulated biomacromolecules can be controlled by simple pH modulation, making this method suitable for applications in therapeutic delivery and genetic engineering.The article reports a novel method for enhancing the robustness of functional biomacromolecules by encapsulating them within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through a biomimetic mineralization process inspired by natural biomineralization. This method allows for the rapid and low-cost encapsulation of proteins, enzymes, and DNA, which are then protected from biological, thermal, and chemical degradation while maintaining their bioactivity. The resulting biocomposites are stable under conditions that would typically decompose many biological macromolecules. For example, enzymes like urease and horseradish peroxidase retain their activity after being treated at high temperatures and in organic solvents. The study demonstrates that the biomimetic mineralization of MOFs forms a nanoporous shell that encapsulates the biomacromolecules, providing unprecedented protection. The versatility of this approach is highlighted by its successful application to various MOFs, including ZIF-8, HKUST-1, Eu/Tb-BDC, and MIL-88A. The protective properties of the MOF coatings are further confirmed by their ability to maintain enzyme activity even under extreme conditions, outperforming other commonly used protective coatings such as CaCO3 and mesoporous silica. Additionally, the release of encapsulated biomacromolecules can be controlled by simple pH modulation, making this method suitable for applications in therapeutic delivery and genetic engineering.