Fig. 2: Synthesis and characterization of UiO-66 MOF PAEs.
From: Colloidal crystal engineering with metal–organic framework nanoparticles and DNA
a SEM image of UiO-66 MOF NPs. Scale bar is 100 nm. b Schematic illustration showing how direct DNA surface functionalization suffers from multi-valent DNA backbone binding to MOF surface SBUs. c The proposed strategy passivates the MOF surface with an azide-functionalized PEG polymer layer that (1) allows alkyne-modified DNA to be effectively coupled, (2) prevents DNA backbone binding, and (3) increases MOF NP colloidal stability. d Three phosphate/phosphonate-PEG-azide ligands with varying number of ethylene glycol units were studied. e DLS analysis of as-synthesized UiO-66 NPs in water (black), PEG5k-modified UiO-66 NPs (red), and DNA functionalized UiO-66 PAEs in 0.5 M NaCl (blue). f Melting transition of MOF–Au PAE DNA-linked aggregates, monitored as a function of change in extinction at 520 nm via UV-vis spectroscopy.
