Free radical scavenging and antibacterial effects of pigskin peptide-functionalized NU-1000 composites

Pigskin peptides (PSPs) are bioactive collagen hydrolysates known for their antioxidant, antibacterial, and other biomedical potentials; however, their direct application is limited by poor environmental stability. Herein, we report the use of NU-1000, a robust zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF), as a delivery platform. A PSP-loaded NU-1000 composite, denoted as PSPs-1@NU-1000-2, was successfully constructed using PSPs with a molecular weight below 3000 Da, and this composite exhibited superior bioactivity. Structural and morphological characterization by FTIR, SEM, XRD, and BET confirmed the successful incorporation of PSPs into NU-1000. Notably, compared with free PSPs, the PSPs-1@NU-1000-2 composite demonstrated significantly enhanced DPPH radical scavenging activity and stronger antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This MOF-based immobilization strategy not only preserves but also potentiates the bioactivities of PSPs, offering a promising peptide-nanomaterial composite for applications in the cosmeceutical, pharmaceutical, and food industries.