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

TLDR

Enhancing the robustness of functional biomacromolecules is a critical challenge in biotechnology, with implications for pharmaceuticals, chemical processing, and biostorage. The study presents a novel biomimetic method that protects biomacromolecules by encapsulating them in metal‑organic framework coatings. Proteins, enzymes, and DNA rapidly trigger metal‑organic framework coating formation under physiological conditions by concentrating building blocks and promoting crystallization around the biomacromolecules. The resulting biocomposites remain stable under harsh conditions, with enzymes such as urease and horseradish peroxidase retaining activity after exposure to 80 °C and boiling in dimethylformamide, demonstrating a rapid, low‑cost approach that expands biomacromolecule applications.

Abstract

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.