Unveiling the potential of HKUST-1: synthesis, activation, advantages and biomedical applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a unique class of nanostructured materials, resulting from the self-assembly of metal ions or clusters with organic ligands, offering a wide range of applications in fields such as drug delivery, gas catalysis, and electrochemical sensing. Among them, HKUST-1, a copper-based MOF, has gained substantial attention due to its remarkable three-dimensional porous structure. Comprising copper ions and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, HKUST-1 exhibits an extraordinary specific surface area and pronounced porosity, making it a promising candidate in biomedicine. Notably, the incorporation of copper ions endows HKUST-1 with noteworthy activities, including antitumor, antibacterial, and wound healing-promoting properties. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the various synthesis methods and activation pathways employed in the preparation of HKUST-1. We also explore the distinct advantages of HKUST-1 in terms of its structural properties and functionalities. Furthermore, we investigate the exciting and rapidly evolving biomedical applications of HKUST-1. From its role in tumor treatment to its antibacterial effects and its ability to promote wound healing, we showcase the multifaceted potential of HKUST-1 in addressing critical challenges in biomedicine.

Development of new magnetic nanocomposite designed by reduced graphene oxide aerogel and HKUST-1, and its catalytic application in the synthesis of polyhydroquinoline and 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridine derivatives

In this study, new magnetic reduced graphene oxide aerogel/HKUST-1 nanocomposite was designed and synthesized given the transformation of graphene oxide sheets to three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide aerogel, the in-situ magnetization of aerogel substrate, and the in-situ formation of HKUST-1 particles. Apart from characterizing the chemistry and structure of the designed magnetic nanocomposite (FT-IR, EDX, ICP, FE-SEM, DLS, XRD, VSM, and TG analyses), its catalytic performance was evaluated in the one-pot synthesis of biologically active 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridine and polyhydroquinoline derivatives. The combination of magnetized reduced graphene oxide aerogel and HKUST-1 in the form of a new heterogeneous magnetic nanocatalyst was accompanied by a high synergetic catalytic effect in the symmetric and unsymmetrical Hantzsch condensation reactions. Compared to previous research studies, the pharmaceutical 1,8-dioxo-decahydroacridine and polyhydroquinoline derivatives can be synthesized using a partial amount of this nanocatalyst with a high percentage of yields in a short reaction time.

The effect of high-frequency acoustic wave vibration pattern on HKUST's multi-level pore structure

The physical properties of materials are critical to their functionality, and the ability to control these properties using external forces is a significant challenge. In this study, we investigate the effect of three high frequency acoustic wave vibration patterns on the structure and morphology of MOF particles. Our results indicate that while regular vibration patterns generated by SAW can alter particle morphology, hybrid waves and Lamb waves with irregular vibration patterns can synthesise MOF crystals with multi-level pores. The vibration pattern of acoustic waves is shown to be a critical factor in controlling the particle morphology process. These results provide new insights into the precise control of crystal structure and the theory of crystallisation by particle attachment (CPA).

Measurement of the Thermal Effect of Standing Surface Acoustic Waves in Microchannel by Fluoresence Intensity

Temperature is an important parameter for many medical and biological applications. It is key to measuring the temperature of acoustofluidics devices for controlling the device’s temperature. In this paper, Rhodamine B was used to measure the temperature change of the microchannel induced by the SSAWs’ thermal effect in microfluidics. A thermocouple was integrated into the microfluidics device to calibrate the relationship between the fluorescent intensity ratios of Rhodamine B and the temperature. Then, the fluid temperature in the microchannel heated by the SSAWs was measured by the fluorescent signal intensity ratio in the acoustofluidics device. The fluid temperature with different input voltages and different flow rates was measured. The results show that SSAWs can heat the still fluid rapidly to 80 °c, and the flow rates will influence the temperature of the fluid. The results will be useful for precisely controlling the temperature of acoustofluidics devices.

Research on the effects of hydrothermal synthesis conditions on the crystal habit of MIL-121

The investigation of the influence of hydrothermal synthesis conditions such as synthetic temperature, the amount of solvent, addition of additives including sodium hydroxide, lithium chloride and 2-methylimidazole on the morphology and size of MIL-121 was carried out. The experimental results indicated the significant impact of hydrothermal synthesis conditions on the morphologies and sizes of MIL-121 crystals. The synthesis temperature has little effect on the morphology, which is mainly reflected in the change of the aspect ratio, but the effect on the size is significant under low-temperature conditions. Additives have an important influence on the morphology and size of MIL-121. Our study provides a potential for the improvement of MIL-121 adsorption performance.

Multi-Spectroscopic Interrogation of the Spatial Linker Distribution in Defect-Engineered Metal-Organic Framework Crystals: The [Cu3 (btc)2-x (cydc)x ] Showcase

In the past few years, defect-engineered metal-organic frameworks (DEMOFs) have been studied due to the plethora of textural, catalytic, or magnetic properties that can be enhanced by carefully introducing defect sites into the crystal lattices of MOFs. In this work, the spatial distribution of two different non-defective and defective linkers, namely 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (BTC) and 5-cyano-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (CYDC), respectively, has been studied in different DEMOF crystals of the HKUST-1 topology. Raman micro-spectroscopy revealed a nonhomogeneous distribution of defect sites within the [Cu3 (btc)2-x (cydc)x ] crystals, with the CYDC linker incorporated into defect-rich or defect-free areas of selected crystals. Additionally, advanced bulk techniques have shed light on the nature of the copper species, which is highly dynamic and directly affects the reactivity of the copper sites, as shown by probe molecule FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed the effect of co-crystallizing CYDC and BTC on the crystal size and the formation of mesopores, further corroborated by X-ray scattering analysis. In this way we have demonstrated the necessity of utilizing micro-spectroscopy along with a whole array of bulk spectroscopic techniques to fully describe multicomponent metal-organic frameworks.

Tritoroidal particle rings formation in open microfluidics induced by standing surface acoustic waves

In this paper, the particle movements in a sessile droplet induced by standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) are studied. Tritoroidal particle rings are formed under the interaction of acoustic field and electric field. The experimental results demonstrate that the electric field plays an important role in patterning nanoparticles. The electric field can define the droplet shape due to electrowetting. When the droplet approximates a hemisphere, the acoustic radiation force induced by SSAWs drives the particles to form tritoroidal particle rings. When the droplet approximates a convex plate, the drag force induced by acoustic steaming drives the particle to move. The results will be useful for better understanding the nanoparticle movements in a sessile droplet, which is important to explain the mechanism that SSAWs enhance reaction and crystallization in droplet.