Genetically engineered peptides for the biomimetic mineralisation of metal-organic frameworks
Genetically engineered peptides for the biomimetic mineralisation of metal-organic frameworks
Biomimetic mineralisation of metal -organic frameworks (MOFs) is a promising synthetic strategy for MOF and hybrid bio-MOF composites with significant potential in a variety of applications. While interactions of MOFs with several biological materials have been well-studied, interactions with peptides remain unexplored. Here we use phage display to identify strongly-binding peptides for isoreticular MOFs (UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2). Zeta potential and CD spectroscopy measurements combined with MD simulations permit characterization and explanation of the structure and dynamics of the MOF binding peptides, and differences in conformation and binding coefficients, allowing the MOF-peptide recognition mechanisms to be determined. The peptides have been successfully used to control MOF crystallinity and morphology for UiO-X MOFs, from a synthesis where amorphous products form in their absence. The findings presented have significant implications for understanding MOF-peptide interactions, which will be critical for the design and control over MOF structures and for bio-centered applications in the future.
metal-organic frameworks, isoreticular MOFs, phage display, peptides, biomimetic synthesis, MD simulations, peptide-MOF interactions
Lymperopoulou, Smaragda
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Hoff, Samuel
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Sola-Rabada, Anna
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Michaelis, Monika
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Efimov, Igor
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Westcott, Zayd C.
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Willimott, India Jane
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Chiacchia, Mauro
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Heinz, Hendrik
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Perry, Carole C.
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Bradshaw, Darren
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Lymperopoulou, Smaragda
8a5b1800-8ead-44f6-91ce-5ec6e0f12abd
Hoff, Samuel
dcdcac14-fae7-449a-981c-f4e22dfe04c1
Sola-Rabada, Anna
687c9ba2-0aae-47d7-b786-84305f4b50f0
Michaelis, Monika
b966837f-db84-4e61-b463-5b69d2affaa9
Efimov, Igor
f6725be6-c62a-41a8-bd4e-d86b9ad10653
Westcott, Zayd C.
03bfab51-951b-4eed-ac16-1f5185e5297b
Willimott, India Jane
ff1e774d-dd3b-44f1-ad8c-3edd290433b8
Chiacchia, Mauro
e4e87209-cc6c-4fbb-b108-632cfe3cb208
Heinz, Hendrik
1610f9f0-02af-4dbb-9963-55392b194253
Perry, Carole C.
f984142c-5d65-486b-abdc-1dfc74be9846
Bradshaw, Darren
7677b11e-1961-447e-b9ba-4847a74bd4dd
Lymperopoulou, Smaragda, Hoff, Samuel, Sola-Rabada, Anna, Michaelis, Monika, Efimov, Igor, Westcott, Zayd C., Willimott, India Jane, Chiacchia, Mauro, Heinz, Hendrik, Perry, Carole C. and Bradshaw, Darren
(2026)
Genetically engineered peptides for the biomimetic mineralisation of metal-organic frameworks.
Chem, [102865].
(doi:10.1016/j.chempr.2025.102865).
Abstract
Biomimetic mineralisation of metal -organic frameworks (MOFs) is a promising synthetic strategy for MOF and hybrid bio-MOF composites with significant potential in a variety of applications. While interactions of MOFs with several biological materials have been well-studied, interactions with peptides remain unexplored. Here we use phage display to identify strongly-binding peptides for isoreticular MOFs (UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2). Zeta potential and CD spectroscopy measurements combined with MD simulations permit characterization and explanation of the structure and dynamics of the MOF binding peptides, and differences in conformation and binding coefficients, allowing the MOF-peptide recognition mechanisms to be determined. The peptides have been successfully used to control MOF crystallinity and morphology for UiO-X MOFs, from a synthesis where amorphous products form in their absence. The findings presented have significant implications for understanding MOF-peptide interactions, which will be critical for the design and control over MOF structures and for bio-centered applications in the future.
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Accepted/In Press date: 17 November 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 2 February 2026
Additional Information:
SH carried out all the simulation work under the guidance of HH. SL completed all of the biomimetic mineralisation studies of MOFs with peptides; IE and ZW carried out the phage display and binding work using zeta potentials; MM and ASR conducted the circular dichroism spectroscopy and the isothermal calorimetry; IW and MC carried out early explorations with peptide-based MOF synthesis in the presence of phage-display peptides. CCP and DB conceived the project, obtained funding and provided guidance and scientific leadership. CCP, DB, MM, ASR, SH, SL and HH all contributed to the writing of the manuscript.
Keywords:
metal-organic frameworks, isoreticular MOFs, phage display, peptides, biomimetic synthesis, MD simulations, peptide-MOF interactions
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 508820
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820
ISSN: 2451-9308
PURE UUID: e7c9d59a-309e-413e-931f-d907c6328942
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Date deposited: 04 Feb 2026 17:37
Last modified: 05 Feb 2026 02:44
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Contributors
Author:
Smaragda Lymperopoulou
Author:
Samuel Hoff
Author:
Anna Sola-Rabada
Author:
Monika Michaelis
Author:
Igor Efimov
Author:
Zayd C. Westcott
Author:
India Jane Willimott
Author:
Mauro Chiacchia
Author:
Hendrik Heinz
Author:
Carole C. Perry
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