Self-assembled metal organic frameworks enhance carbon fixation in Spirulina

作者：Yue Rong, Jiaxin Chen, Mingjing Zhang, Tingting Wu, Yuan Jiang, Xin Lin, Minhan Dai · 发表于：Communications Materials · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s43246-025-00991-0 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Algal biology and biofuel production、Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies、Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics

Excess anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are a major driver of the ongoing climate crisis, underscoring the urgent need for scalable CO2 removal technologies Photosynthesis enhancement via microalgae represents a promising pathway. Here, we report a targeted CO2 removal strategy using a metal-organic framework (MOF), ZIF-8-NH2, assembled directly onto the surface of Spirulina platensis. Synthesized through a mixed-ligand route, the water-stable ZIF-8-NH2 exhibits primary amine functionality that promotes hydrogen bonding with microalgal membrane proteins, enabling stable self-assembly as confirmed by spectroscopic and microscopic analyses. At an optimal concentration of 50 ppm, ZIF-8-NH2 increased dry cell weight and CO2 fixation rate by 149% and 93%, respectively, relative to unmodified controls, whereas free ZIF-8 impaired growth. In bicarbonate-rich media, the enhancement in biomass was reduced to 25%, suggesting that the assembled MOF functions as an artificial CO2-concentrating mechanism. These findings establish a promising platform for enhancing microalgal carbon capture and offer new insights into cell-surface MOF applications. Photosynthesis enhancement via microalgae is a promising approach for carbon dioxide capture. Here, a metal-organic framework is assembled directly on the surface of Spirulina platensis, enhancing carbon dioxide delivery and fixation.