Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) possess well-ordered porous structures that have been shown to adsorb proteins. MOFs can be enhanced by combining them with suitable materials to make composites. Enhancements include, but are not limited to, changing pore sizes, adding functional groups, improving selectivity of adsorption, and increasing stability. Previous research has shown high adsorption of proteins by the MOF, HKUST-1 but no research has been done to investigate the adsorption by its related composites, such as HKUST-1/GO, HKUST-1/ magnetite and HKUST-1/magnetite/GO. In this research, HKUST-1 and composites based on graphene oxide (GO) and magnetite were synthesized, characterized by FTIR, XRD and TGA, and investigated with the adsorption of insulin and bovine serum albumin (BSA). HKUST-1 and the composites adsorbed insulin rapidly within 20 minutes of incubation but with BSA, HKUST-1/GO (wt% = 18) showed the best adsorption of proteins within a 30-minute incubation period as indicated by the results of gel electrophoresis. Hydrolysis of the HKUST-1/GO (18%) with 0.02M sodium hydroxide solution improved the adsorption by varying the pore size but selectivity decreased. Magnetite and GO (18%) were compared and different levels of adsorption were observed; the GO composites indicated better adsorption. These results confirm the possibility of using HKUST-1 and related composites for adsorbing proteins at different amounts and with possible selectivity by varying the percent composition of magnetite and GO in the composites.<br/>

Investigation of HKUST-1 and related composites with protein adsorption

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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