Anomalous adsorption of biomolecules on a Zn-based metal–organic framework obtained via a facile room-temperature route

Abstract

Herein, we report a new method for the crystal growth of two Zn-based MOFs at room temperature (known MOF-5 and a new modification of [{Zn₂(TBAPy)(H₂O)₂}·3.5DEF]_n (1)) by employing slow diffusion conditions. Employing both Zn-based MOFs with different pore morphology made it possible to discover an anomalous adsorption of L-histidine in 1 of up to 24.3 × 10¹⁵ molecules cm⁻² at 25 °C. This is one of the first reports aimed not only at describing a new method for the targeted formation of crystalline MOFs and coordination polymers, but also at demonstrating the use of Zn-based MOFs as potential drug delivery materials, with highly effective adsorption of L-histidine given herein as an example.