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Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Synthesis of Single-Crystalline Core-Shell Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: February 10, 2023
Nucleic acid-metal organic framework (MOF) nanoparticle conjugates
William Morris1, William E Briley, Evelyn Auyeung
1Department of Chemistry and International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
Abstract:
Nanoparticles of a metal-organic framework (MOF), UiO-66-N3 (Zr6O4OH4(C8H3O4-N3)6), were synthesized. The surface of the MOF was covalently functionalized with oligonucleotides, utilizing a strain promoted click reaction between DNA appended with dibenzylcyclooctyne and azide-functionalized UiO-66-N3 to create the first MOF nanoparticle-nucleic acid conjugates. The structure of the framework was preserved throughout the chemical transformation, and the surface coverage of DNA was quantified. Due to the small pore sizes, the particles are only modified on their surfaces. When dispersed in aqueous NaCl, they exhibit increased stability and enhanced cellular uptake when compared with unfunctionalized MOF particles of comparable size.
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