Construction and Evaluation of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-Encapsulated Hemoglobin Microparticles as Oxygen Carriers

Artificial oxygen carriers, such as favorably hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, have received considerable attention due to some drawbacks of human donor blood. Among all oxygen carriers, the metal organic framework (MOF) exhibits excellent oxygen-carrying capacity due to its good encapsulation efficiency and competitive biocompatibility. Recently, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with unique structure have attracted much attention due to their outstanding solvothermal stability. Notably, ZIF-8, the prototypical ZIF, has been utilized to load hemoglobin (Hb) as a potential blood substitute. In this work, another ZIF material, which possesses a high oxygen binding/release capability, suitable safety profile, high stability, and efficiency as a potential oxygen carrier, was used to encapsulate Hb in an environment-friendly condition.