Engineering MOF-Assembled Nanochannels for Enantioselective Detection and Separation of Chiral Drugs

Developing highly efficient and robust membrane systems for the selective identification and screening of chiral drugs is an exceptionally challenging task. Herein, we report that functional metal–organic framework (MOF)-packed nanochannels can serve as an excellent chiral recognition platform for enantioselective detection and separation of chiral drugs. Through the precise regulation of the nanoconfinement size and the anchoring of cyclodextrin active sites, the functionalized nanochannel membrane exhibits high enrichment efficiency and enables the highly selective detection of l-penicillamine, as demonstrated by monitoring the transmembrane ionic current signature. Importantly, the engineered nanochannel membrane system can be further utilized for highly efficient racemic penicillamine separation, achieving a remarkable enantiomeric excess (ee) value of up to 89.88%. This research not only puts forward an innovative strategy to establish versatile chiral sieving devices by manipulating the well-defined functional materials but also offers valuable insights for the development of high-performance membranes to meet the demands of chiral drug separation and wide practical applications.