Metal-organic frameworks for the delivery of biocompatible molecules
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Pest insect species cause millions of pounds worth of damage every year, especially in developing parts of the world. These species are often tackled by indiscriminate use of pesticides, much of which is inefficient, with the pesticide washed away before it can be used. Not only is this wasteful, but it leads to pollution and environmental harm. The ability to target pesticides more efficiently would decrease their overall use and increase their efficiency, both of which would have environmental and economical benefits. Similarly, the potential of increasing the lifetime of insect repellents will increase their efficiency and benefit disease control.
We can address this issue with a study of functionalised porous material for the delivery of biocompatible molecules. The porous material in questions are metal-organic frameworks. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous material, and they are currently attracting considerable attention for applications in gas storage, separations and catalysis. MOFs are constructed from the linking together of metal aggregates into two- and three-dimensional extended structures using bridging organic ligands.
Our focus is to take advantage of the properties of MOFs to the storage and controlled release of biologically important molecules. The target biomolecules are insect attractants (and broadly speaking semiochemcials), pesticides and repellents. This project has three areas of focus. Firstly experimentally obtain data on uptake and release of target biomolecules, including synthesis of materials, development of new better performing materials. Secondly model the behaviour of the biomolecules within the porous materials with computational methods, based on experimentally obtained results. Finally, to develop a material scoping technique to quickly access a materials performance, this is a novel application of flow NMR. With the overall aim of providing a novel solution to pest control.
We can address this issue with a study of functionalised porous material for the delivery of biocompatible molecules. The porous material in questions are metal-organic frameworks. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous material, and they are currently attracting considerable attention for applications in gas storage, separations and catalysis. MOFs are constructed from the linking together of metal aggregates into two- and three-dimensional extended structures using bridging organic ligands.
Our focus is to take advantage of the properties of MOFs to the storage and controlled release of biologically important molecules. The target biomolecules are insect attractants (and broadly speaking semiochemcials), pesticides and repellents. This project has three areas of focus. Firstly experimentally obtain data on uptake and release of target biomolecules, including synthesis of materials, development of new better performing materials. Secondly model the behaviour of the biomolecules within the porous materials with computational methods, based on experimentally obtained results. Finally, to develop a material scoping technique to quickly access a materials performance, this is a novel application of flow NMR. With the overall aim of providing a novel solution to pest control.
Planned Impact
The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sustainable Chemical Technologies (SCT) at the University of Bath will place fundamental concepts of sustainability at the core of a broad spectrum of research and training at the interface of chemical science and engineering. It will train over 60 PhD students in 5 cohorts within four themes (Energy and Water, Renewable Resources and Biotechnology, Processes and Manufacturing and Healthcare Technologies) and its activities and graduates will have potential economic, environmental and social impact across a wide range of beneficiaries from academia, public sector and government, to industry, schools and the general public.
The primary impact of the CDT will be in providing a pool of highly skilled and talented graduates as tomorrow's leaders in industry, academia, and policy-making, who are committed to all aspects of sustainability. The economic need for such graduates is well-established and CDT graduates will enhance the economic competitiveness of the UK chemistry-using sector, which accounts for 6m jobs (RSC 2010), contributing £25b to the UK economy in 2010 (RSC 2013). The Industrial Biotechnology (IB) Innovation and Growth Team (2009) estimated the value of the IB market in 2025 between £4b and £12b, and CIKTN (BIS) found that "chemistry, chemical engineering and biology taken together underpin some £800b of activity in the UK economy".
UK industry will also gain through collaborative research and training proposed in the Centre. At this stage, the CDT has 24 partners including companies from across the chemistry- and biotechnology-using sectors. As well as direct involvement in collaborative CDT projects, the Centre will provide an excellent mechanism to engage with industrial and manufacturing partners via the industrial forum and the Summer Showcase, providing many opportunities to address economic, environmental and societal challenges, thereby achieving significant economic and environmental impact.
Many of the issues and topics covered by the centre (e.g., sustainable energy, renewable feedstocks, water, infection control) are of broad societal interest, providing excellent opportunities for engagement of a wide range of publics in broader technical and scientific aspects of sustainability. Social impact will be achieved through participation of Centre students and staff in science cafés, science fairs (Cheltenham Science Festival, British Science Festival, Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition) and other events (e.g., Famelab, I'm a Scientist Get Me Out of Here). Engagement with schools and schoolteachers will help stimulate the next generation of scientists and engineers through enthusing young minds in relevant topics such as biofuels, solar conversion, climate change and degradable plastics.
The activities of the CDT have potential to have impact on policy and to shape the future landscape of sustainable chemical technologies and manufacturing. The CDT will work with Bath's new Institute for Policy Research, through seminars, joint publication of policy briefs to shape and inform policy relevant to SCT. Internship opportunities with stakeholder partners and, for example, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology will provide further impact in this context.
The primary impact of the CDT will be in providing a pool of highly skilled and talented graduates as tomorrow's leaders in industry, academia, and policy-making, who are committed to all aspects of sustainability. The economic need for such graduates is well-established and CDT graduates will enhance the economic competitiveness of the UK chemistry-using sector, which accounts for 6m jobs (RSC 2010), contributing £25b to the UK economy in 2010 (RSC 2013). The Industrial Biotechnology (IB) Innovation and Growth Team (2009) estimated the value of the IB market in 2025 between £4b and £12b, and CIKTN (BIS) found that "chemistry, chemical engineering and biology taken together underpin some £800b of activity in the UK economy".
UK industry will also gain through collaborative research and training proposed in the Centre. At this stage, the CDT has 24 partners including companies from across the chemistry- and biotechnology-using sectors. As well as direct involvement in collaborative CDT projects, the Centre will provide an excellent mechanism to engage with industrial and manufacturing partners via the industrial forum and the Summer Showcase, providing many opportunities to address economic, environmental and societal challenges, thereby achieving significant economic and environmental impact.
Many of the issues and topics covered by the centre (e.g., sustainable energy, renewable feedstocks, water, infection control) are of broad societal interest, providing excellent opportunities for engagement of a wide range of publics in broader technical and scientific aspects of sustainability. Social impact will be achieved through participation of Centre students and staff in science cafés, science fairs (Cheltenham Science Festival, British Science Festival, Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition) and other events (e.g., Famelab, I'm a Scientist Get Me Out of Here). Engagement with schools and schoolteachers will help stimulate the next generation of scientists and engineers through enthusing young minds in relevant topics such as biofuels, solar conversion, climate change and degradable plastics.
The activities of the CDT have potential to have impact on policy and to shape the future landscape of sustainable chemical technologies and manufacturing. The CDT will work with Bath's new Institute for Policy Research, through seminars, joint publication of policy briefs to shape and inform policy relevant to SCT. Internship opportunities with stakeholder partners and, for example, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology will provide further impact in this context.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Andrew Burrows (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Joseph PAUL-TAYLOR (Student) |
| Description | It has been found that the release rate and uptake of semiochemicals can be controlled by changing the pore chemistry. Reducing the pore space makes it possible to dictate the uptake and release rate of the semiochemical. As well as changing the pore chemistry, changing the pore shape also affects the uptake and release, with larger pores favouring greater uptakes and a faster release. This has been shown using both experimental and computational approaches. Both of these approaches can be used to prolong the lifetime of semiochemicals, which would be useful as bait in insect lure traps. Initial experiments show that flow NMR could be used as a screening method to assess the uptake and release of porous materials, which would enable a quicker assessment of materials. |
| Exploitation Route | The next steps are to conduct biological trials with the loaded materials, this will determine the effectiveness of these materials as bait in a lure trap and how the materials perform in real-world conditions. The flow NMR screening would require an increase in the scope of materials assessed and further refinement of the methodology. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |