Fabricating Bioactive 3D Metal–Organic Framework Devices

Abstract

Transforming the future capability to protect and restore vulnerable environments hinges on the ability to monitor them in real‐time with ever‐increasing sensitivity. Combining the precision and proficiency of biomolecules to signal the presence of low‐level toxins is key to developing water system monitoring that enables fast detection and remediation of pollution. Here, a 3D flow sensor is developed incorporating enzymes which can signal the presence of organic toxins from water systems over extended periods of time. The enzymes are encapsulated in a porous, crystalline metal–organic framework (MOF) cage, providing protection and stability. The inline flow device features a cutting‐edge 3D‐printed design to maximize flow and interfacial interactions between the encapsulated organophosphate degrading enzyme (OpdA) and the organophosphate based pollutants. The OpdA produces a yellow product on decomposition of the pollution that signals its presence. The porous protective MOF coating is key to this technology, structurally securing the enzyme while allowing the flow of reactant and thus the continuous breakdown of organic pollution over several days.

Advances in 3D Gel Printing for Enzyme Immobilization

“…Limitations on making macroscopic structures with MOFs can be overcome with 3D printing. Doherty and co-workers [ 61 ] 3D printed a static mixer using DLP and functionalized it with a bovine serum albumin (BSA) coating followed by zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) growth in the presence of organophosphate degrading enzyme A (OpdA) and a ZIF precursor mixture in a modified layer-by-layer fashion. The porous ZIF coating securely encapsulated enzymes on the surface of the in-line flow mixer while allowing for the free diffusion of reactants in and out of the ZIF cages.…”

Towards Solving the PFAS Problem: The Potential Role of Metal‐Organic Frameworks

“…The ability to structurally confine and stabilize enzymes using MOFs would allow for their continuous use for remediation in environmental conditions without the impracticality of supplementation. [73] Laccase is amongst the multiple enzymes that have so far been incorporated with this technique in MOFs. Knedel et al used the zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 to demonstrate improved thermal and chemical stability compared to free laccase.…”

“…While the MOF scaffolds impart exceptional protection, their high porosity allows for access of the enzyme to reactants and products. The ability to structurally confine and stabilize enzymes using MOFs would allow for their continuous use for remediation in environmental conditions without the impracticality of supplementation [73] …”

Stable MOF@enzyme composites for electrochemical biosensing devices

“…An innovative technique developed for protecting enzymes uses a co-precipitation method in which the MOF self-assembles around the enzyme (de novo encapsulation) in a bio-mimetic type approach. [15][16][17][18] Some of the studies demonstrating the advantages of the later approach for enzyme storage and thermal stability are as shown in Table 1.…”