POS8-0835
Multifunctional platform based on porous coordination frameworks for ratiometric fluorescent quantification of a gut microbial metabolite
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
MinGyeong Kang (Chungnam National University )
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
The gut microbiome and its metabolite are important biomarkers related to health and diseases. Therefore, we need to measure this biomarker accurately. However, normal enzyme-based sensors have a big limitation because enzymes are easily ruined and unstable. To solve this, porous coordination frameworks (PCFs) have been used as a protective framework to keep enzymes safe and active. Among these, methyl-functionalized PCF (MPCF) is a widely adopted platform. However, the 2-methylimidazole linker provides a relatively hydrophobic environment which can negatively affect the structure and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Therefore carboxaldehyde-functionalized PCF (CPCF) was selected as an alternative platform capable of maintaining LDH activity. CPCF is composed of Zn²⁺ and 2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde and can provide a suitable environment for maintaining enzymatic activity. In this study, LDH was encapsulated in CPCF during framework formation, and conjugated polymer dots (CPdots) were attached to the particle surface through electrostatic attraction. Through this design the CPCF-based system can serve as a multifunctional platform by protecting the enzyme and enabling ratiometric fluorescence sensing. This platform was designed for ratiometric fluorescence sensing using the blue fluorescence of NADH and the red fluorescence of CPdots. As the biomarker concentration increases, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is changed to NADH by the encapsulated enzyme. This leads to increased blue fluorescence from NADH and decreased red fluorescence from CPdots. Therefore, this study provides a simple quantitative analysis method for a gut microbial metabolite by monitoring ratiometric fluorescence changes.
