CAREER: Development of Mesoporous Metal-Organic Frameworks as a New Type of Platform for Enzyme Immobilization

技术概述：在材料研究部固态与材料化学项目的支持下，南佛罗里达大学的马圣谦教授将开发介孔金属有机框架（mesoMOFs）作为一种新型的酶固定化宿主基质材料，它不仅可以规避现有宿主基质材料的缺点，还可以为“可调”酶封装提供新的平台。本研究的目的包括：(i)设计和合成水稳定的功能介孔有机硅；（ii）开发将酶固定到mesoMOFs中的方案，表征enzymes@mesoMOFs，并评估其在酶催化中的性能；（iii）定制功能的mesoMOFs作为化学酶和多酶级联催化的平台。机制研究也将进行，以调查被封装在mesoMOFs内的酶的行为，并揭示酶分子与mesoMOF框架之间的特定相互作用。非技术摘要：在材料研究部固体与材料化学项目的支持下，本研究旨在推进介孔金属有机框架作为酶固定化的新型宿主基质材料，这将影响化学/精细化工，制药和食品工业。它将为构建功能金属-有机框架材料提供新的方法，用于更广泛的应用，并有助于我们理解自然界的酶促反应。该奖项将帮助PI建立一个涉及材料、固态化学、催化和生物化学的多学科研究项目，从而发现与能源可持续性和绿色化学密切相关的新型功能材料。因此，拟议的研究将为STEM学生提供所需的专业科学培训。综合研究和教育活动以及拟议的外展计划将专门针对少数民族和代表性不足的群体的参与，从而为激励和培养他们在STEM领域从事职业提供平台。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:With the support of the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in the Division of Materials Research, Professor Shengqian Ma at the University of South Florida will develop mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (mesoMOFs) as a new type of host matrix materials for enzyme immobilization, which will not only circumvent the drawbacks of existing host matrix materials but also offer new platforms for "tunable" enzyme encapsulation. The aims of the proposed research include (i) design and synthesis of water-stable functional mesoMOFs; (ii) development of protocols to immobilize enzymes into mesoMOFs, characterizations of enzymes@mesoMOFs, and evaluation of their performances in enzymatic catalysis; and (iii) tailoring functional mesoMOFs as platforms for chemo-enzymatic and multi-enzymatic cascade catalysis. Mechanistic studies will also be performed to investigate the behavior of enzyme encapsulated within the mesoMOFs and to unveil the specific interactions between enzyme molecules and mesoMOF frameworks. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:With the support of the Solid State and Materials Chemistry program in the Division of Materials Research, the proposed research aims to advance mesoporous metal-organic frameworks as a new type of host matrix materials for enzyme immobilization, which would impact chemical/fine chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries: it will formulate new methodologies to construct functional metal-organic framework materials for a wider range of applications and help our understanding of enzymatic reactions in nature. The award will help the PI to establish a multidisciplinary research program of materials, solid-state chemistry, catalysis and biochemistry that will lead to the discovery of novel functional materials with profound relevance to energy sustainability and green chemistry. The proposed research will thereby provide the type of professional scientific training that would be desirable for STEM students. The integrated research and educational activities and proposed outreach programs will specifically target participation of minorities and underrepresented groups thus providing a platform to motivate and foster them for pursuing careers in STEM fields.