Continuous‐Flow Synthesis of ZIF‐8 Biocomposites with Tunable Particle Size. Issue 21 (17th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carraro, Francesco; Williams, Jason D.; Linares‐Moreau, Mercedes; Parise, Chiara; Liang, Weibin; Amenitsch, Heinz; Doonan, Christian; Kappe, C. Oliver; Falcaro, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 59:Issue 21(2020)
• Page Start: 8123
• Page End: 8127
• Publication Date: 2020-03-17
• Subjects: flow chemistry -- in situ SAXS -- metal–organic frameworks -- MOF biocomposites -- particle size; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202000678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) biocomposites show the capacity to protect and deliver biotherapeutics. To date, the progress in this research area is based on laboratory batch methods. Now, the first continuous flow synthetic method is presented for the encapsulation of a model protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) and a clinical therapeutic (α1‐antitrypsin, AAT) in ZIF‐8. The in situ kinetics of nucleation, growth, and crystallization of BSA@ZIF‐8 were studied by small‐angle X‐ray scattering. By controlling the injection time of ethanol, the particle growth could be quenched by ethanol‐induced crystallization from amorphous particles to ZIF‐8 crystals. The particle size of the biocomposite was tuned in the 40–100 nm range by varying residence time prior to introduction of ethanol. As a proof‐of‐concept, this procedure was used for the encapsulation of AAT in ZIF‐8. Upon release of the biotherapeutic from the composite, the trypsin inhibitor function of AAT was preserved. Abstract : The particle size of ZIF‐8 biocomposites can be precisely tuned by controlling the injection of ethanol in the ZIF precursor solution. Owing to the abrupt amorphous‐to‐crystalline transition, an ethanol quenching method was used to adjust the particle dimension in the 40–100 nm range. This in‐flow synthesis will facilitate the application of biotherapeutic@ZIF‐8 for biomedicine.