Zn(II) Metal-Organic Framework as an Efficient Platform for Oxytocin Monitoring and Photodegradation

The rising presence of pharmaceutical contaminants such as peptide hormones and antibiotics in aquatic environments poses significant risks to both public health and ecological balance. Among them, oxytocin-a potent neuropeptide hormone-demands particular attention due to its clinical importance and endocrine-disrupting potential. Herein, we report the design and development of a multifunctional zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zinc-MOF) synthesized from zinc perchlorate hexahydrate and tris(2-carboxyethyl) isocyanurate (H₃TCi), as an organic linkers, engineered for dual applications: selective fluorescence-based detection of oxytocin (OXN) and visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants (OXN). The Zinc-MOF exhibited high quenching sensitivity and remarkable anti-interference capability, selectively detecting OXN even in the presence of structurally diverse antibiotics. Parallel photocatalytic studies demonstrated superior degradation efficiency toward OXN compared to a broad panel of eight commonly used antibiotics, highlighting the framework's robust catalytic activity and substrate specificity. The deliberate inclusion of both hormone and antibiotic analytes reflects real-world wastewater complexity and underscores the versatility of this MOF platform. These findings position the Zinc-MOF as a promising dual-function material for integrated biosensing and environmental remediation of trace-level pharmaceutical residues.