Hydrophilic Metal–Organic Frameworks Regulated by Biomineralized Protein for Enhanced Stability and Drug Delivery
Sajid Ur Rehman, Shuai Kong, Jing Zhang, Haining Xia, Ruiguo Chen, Zeyong Guo, Zehua Li, Rida Ahmed, Abbas Rehman, Hossein Kazemian, Yan-Yi Jiang, Yanyi Jiang, Shuai Xu, Yuan Jiang, Yuan Jiang, Kun Ma, Junfeng Wang
Abstract
For bridging the gap between biological and synthetic materials, the fusion of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) with biological entities has emerged as a revolutionary strategy in functional materials. In this context, our study introduces a novel structure wherein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), a robust and versatile protein, encapsulates zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), forming a protein-caged MOF. Highlighting the advantages of this innovative design, the protein-encapsulation enhances the stability and dispersity of ZIF-8, and aids in the synthesis of smaller-sized nanoparticles, crucial for size-impact performance applications. Additionally, the BSA-caged ZIF-8 structure showcases potential in drug delivery applications, especially in the controlled delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. The study thus elucidates the multifaceted applicability of this novel structure, marking a significant stride in the convergence of biological and synthetic materials.