Dr. Patricia HORCAJADA

Thèmes de recherche développés

Synthesis and characterisation of porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on iron
(collaboration with C. Serre, T. Devic, E. Magnier, O. David and N. Stock (U. Kiel, Germany))

- MOFs with modified linkers (S. Bauer, et al., Inorg. Chem., 47, 7568-7576, 2008) : the functionalisation of the linker (OH, CH3, NH2…) allows the modification of the adsorption properties through the change in the matrix-guest interactions and the flexibility character.

- Porous MOFs based on bioactives linkers.

- MOFs with giant pores (P. Horcajada, et al. Chem. Commun. 2820-2822, 2007)

- Synthesis of MOFs nanoparticles for nanoapplications have been performed with several porous iron MOFs (40-300nm) using either hydro-solvothermal, ultrasonnic or microwave synthesis.

Figure 1. Scanning electron micrographs of the iron carboxylates MIL-88A(Fe) (left) and MIL-88Bt(Fe) (middle) synthesised by solvothermal conditions and MIL-101(Cr) (right) obtained by microwave synthesis.

Thin films of porous MOFs
(collaboration with C. Serre, C. Sanchez, D. Grosso and C. Boissiere (U. Paris VI, Paris)) :

Porous nanoMOFs can be deposed as thin films with high quality optical properties on different substrates by simple techniques such as dip-coating or spin-coating. The great interest towards thin film technologies relies on the multiple potential applications associated with their membrane morphology and their association with a solid substrate (e.g. optics, microelectronics, sensing, catalysis, protection, electrodes for energy storage and conversion…).

Bioapplications of porous MOFs
(collaboration with C. Serre; P. Couvreur and R. Gref- Faculty of Pharmacy (U. Paris XI, Chatenay Malabry) :

- Surface modification of the nanoparticles: furtivity, targeting

- Biodegradability, in vitro and in vivo toxicity tests

- Encapsulation and controlled delivery of biomolecules (drugs etc…)

- Adsorption and controlled release of biological gases (collaboration with R. Morris, U. St Andrews, UK)

- Detoxification (collaboration with JL Grossiord, U. Paris XI, Chatenay Malabry)

- Imaging magnetic resonance (collaboration with B. Gillet and K. Sebrie, ICSN, Gif sur Yvette)

Porous MOFs have many interesting potential applications in catalysis, separation, storage, etc. Our group has recently reported the possibility to use these solids as drug controlled delivery systems. In fact, large capacities and longer delivery kinetics have been proved using porous MOFs, which can also protect the drug from the degradation.
Core and surface engineered nanoMOFs would allow their intravenous administration, protecting the drug from the degradation and controlling the time and space release (targeting). Encapsulation tests of challenging drugs (antitumoral, retroviral) are actually in progress with very promising results. These materials are also very attractive for the encapsulation and controlled release of other interesting molecules (cosmetics, biological gazes, toxins…). Moreover, the iron-based cores exhibit imaging properties, which give the opportunity to use the nanoMOFs as theranostic agents.
Finally, in vivo and in vitro toxicity tests have shown the lack of toxicity of these nanoMOFs after 3 months of the iv administration.

Other applications of porous MOFs
(collaboration with C. Serre and T. Devic)

- Raman and infrared spectroscopy, (G. Clet, A. Vimont, M. Daturi (LCS, Caen))

- Mössbauer spectroscopy (JM Greneche (LPEC, LE Mans))

- Gas adsorption/separation (P. Llewellyn, S. Bourrelly (LCP, Marseille); JS Chang, Krict, Corea))

- Adsorption of vapours ((R. Denoyel, PL Llewellyn, S. Bourrelly (LCP, Marseille); P. Trens, Institut Gerhardt, Montpellier))

- Liquid phase adsorption (R. Denoyel (LCP, Marseille))

- Computer simulation (G. Maurin (Institut Gerhardt, Montpellier)

- Heterogeneous catalysis (JS Chang (KRICT, Corea))

- Insertion of polyanions (C. Roch)

- In situ XRD experiments (Y. Filinchuk (ESRF, Grenoble))

- Neutron scattering diffusion (H. Jovic, IRC, Lyon)

- Temperature XRD analysis (N. Audebrand, Rennes)