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

技术综述：在材料研究部固体与材料化学项目的支持下，南佛罗里达大学的马胜千教授将开发介孔金属-有机骨架(MesoMOF)作为一种新型的酶固定化基质材料，它不仅可以绕过现有基质材料的缺点，而且可以为酶的“可调”包埋提供新的平台。这项研究的目的包括：(I)设计和合成水稳定的功能介孔分子筛；(Ii)开发固定化酶的方案，酶@介孔分子筛的表征，以及它们在酶催化中的性能评价；(Iii)定制功能介孔分子筛作为化学-酶和多酶串联催化的平台。还将进行机理研究，以研究包埋在介孔分子膜中的酶的行为，并揭示酶分子和介孔分子框架之间的特定相互作用。非技术综述：在材料研究部固态和材料化学计划的支持下，本研究旨在推进介孔金属-有机骨架作为一种新型的酶固定化基质材料，这将对化学/精细化工、制药和食品工业产生影响：它将制定新的方法来构建具有更广泛应用范围的功能性金属-有机骨架材料，并有助于我们理解自然界中的酶反应。该奖项将帮助PI建立一个材料、固态化学、催化和生物化学的多学科研究计划，这将导致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学生提供可取的专业科学培训。综合研究和教育活动以及拟议的外联方案将专门针对少数群体和代表性不足的群体的参与，从而提供一个平台，激励和促进他们在STEM领域追求事业。

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.