This week, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2025 was awarded to three pioneering scientists for their groundbreaking work in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs).
The Nobel committee described MOFs as akin to “rooms in a hotel” that allow tiny molecules to enter and exit freely.
The laureates, Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi, laid the foundation of this field in the late 1980s, prompting a global surge in related research, including at institutions in North Texas, such as the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas).
Ronald Smaldone, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UT Dallas, reflected on the unforeseen applications of MOFs.
“I don’t think the people who started this would have imagined that you’d be making polymers and vaccines and doing water purification with MOFs,” he said.
MOFs are constructed at the atomic level, resembling Lego-like structures.
These materials consist of metal ions linked with carbon-based compounds, forming repeating patterns that create intricate 3D caverns filled with variously sized pores.
Initially, researchers viewed MOFs as storage solutions for energy-related gases such as hydrogen and methane.
“Since then, these ‘super sponges’ have been employed in batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells, facilitating faster ion movement due to their vast internal space, while their adaptable designs allow chemists to customize the molecular storage area,” Smaldone noted.
Mario Wriedt, another associate professor at UT Dallas, highlighted the broader potential of MOFs beyond energy applications.
He posited that these 3D structures could be instrumental in capturing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals” due to their durability in the environment.
PFAS are widely used in a range of consumer, commercial, and industrial products, contaminating water, air, and soil, and are linked to severe health risks in humans and animals.
Wriedt is refining MOFs to enhance their ability to trap PFAS, tailoring the pore sizes and introducing chemical “handles” that securely latch onto these substances.
“We have a handful of MOFs in the lab that are outperforming any state-of-the-art material out there,” Wriedt stated, noting their record capacity and speed for removing PFAS.
The long-term vision is to develop water purification systems featuring a MOF layer capable of filtering out contaminants.
Wriedt also envisions portable tests using MOFs that crews could employ to monitor water quality in areas vulnerable to PFAS contamination, especially following firefighting operations.
On another front, Jeremiah Gassensmith, an associate professor at UT Dallas, highlighted how some MOFs can transport crucial medications and vaccines, thereby enhancing immune responses through the incorporation of metals.
Gassensmith noted, “We know that metals are an important part of the immune system,” emphasizing the adaptability in selecting different metals to tune the immune response.
In his lab, Gassensmith utilizes zinc-based MOFs as protective shells for proteins used in vaccines.
These MOFs not only safeguard proteins from degradation under harsh conditions but also enhance the immune system’s reaction to these proteins.
Having previously collaborated with Nobel laureate Omar Yaghi at Northwestern University, Gassensmith is working on developing MOF-based vaccines for recurrent urinary tract infections and treatments for tuberculosis.
He has also tested a method for delivering MOF-based vaccines using a puff of pressurized air, which could serve as a needle-free alternative in the future.
Ronald Smaldone aims to leverage MOFs for air purification, focusing on not just capturing harmful substances but also breaking them down.
His team is utilizing 3D printing techniques to create polymers embedded with MOFs to trap and decompose airborne pollutants.
Currently, they are collaborating with the Army to develop filtration systems capable of degrading toxic chemicals and warfare agents, which could lead to the creation of protective masks and ventilation filters.
Beyond military applications, Smaldone envisions MOF polymers as a solution to combat air pollution, potentially improving public health by lowering chronic exposures that exacerbate asthma and increase cancer risks over time.
Reflecting on the role of fundamental research, Smaldone acknowledged that curiosity often initiates scientific exploration.
He remarked, “Early on, the Yaghi, Robson, and Kitagawa groups were just interested in studying coordination chemistry and figuring out ways to make materials.”
He emphasized the unforeseen pathways that basic research can lead to, stating, “Here we are mixing a few molecules together, and now we’re making vaccines, filters, and polymers.”
The recognition of Kitagawa, Robson, and Yaghi with the Nobel Prize underscores the profound impact that foundational work in chemistry can have on a wide range of applications, shaping the future of science and technology.
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