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Nanoscale Metal–Organic Frameworks for Biomedical Applications

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Tailor-made nanocages for biomedicine

One of the most promising material types of the 21st century has unprecedented surface area with largely empty internal space. Utilising biologically relevant molecules to synthesise them, scientists have developed sensors and drug-delivery vehicles.

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Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) consist of metal atoms linked by organic molecules and resemble scaffold-like structures. The tremendous surface area and empty internal spaces of these porous scaffolds makes them of great interest for chemical separation, sensing and drug delivery. One of the main focuses has been on storage of hydrogen or carbon dioxide, spurring new frontiers for clean energy. The possibilities for functionalisation are virtually limitless due to tuneable host–guest properties and post-processing modification of internal surfaces. With EU support, a group of researchers has developed novel nano-scale MOFs for drug delivery and more within the project 'Nanoscale metal–organic frameworks for biomedical applications' (NANOBIOMOFS). The materials are based on biologically relevant organic ligands. One group exploited the nucleobase adenine. Adenine and its five nitrogen-donor atoms demonstrated impressive versatility with differing coordination around the metal cluster in each MOF. Examples of the functions of these MOFs were as hydration sensors (turning from pink to purple) and as a drug-delivery vehicle (through hydrogen bonding of an anti-cancer drug). Another family of MOFs utilised peptide ligands. They were successfully used to separate mixtures of two different enantiomers, molecules with the same chemical formula but structures that are mirror images of each other and not superimposable (chiral molecules). Enantiomer separation is critical to drug development because typically one of the two has high activity and the other does not. Chiral molecules are typically optically active. The third and final group of MOFs was based on enantiomers of amino acids. Scientists employed them in varying ratios to produce two isostructural (of similar crystal structure) and homochiral (the same chirality) MOFs with different optical activity. The groundbreaking result has been submitted for publication. NANOBIOMOFS outcomes led to several publications in esteemed scientific journals, a book chapter and a mini-review. MOF research is progressing at lightning speed around the globe and the first commercialisation could soon be within reach. The EU and its scientific community are poised to play a major role in a new era of materials for biomedicine, energy, the environment and beyond.

Keywords

Sensors, metal–organic frameworks, porous scaffolds, drug delivery, nanoscale, biomedical applications, adenine

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