Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for enhanced biological CO2 fixation: Advances and applications in enzyme catalysis and living cell applications

Fangcao Li; Weiming Li; Wanying Huang; Hua Jin; Chi Cheng; Chuang Xue

doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108632

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for enhanced biological CO₂ fixation: Advances and applications in enzyme catalysis and living cell applications

Biotechnol Adv. 2025 Jun 25:108632. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108632. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Fangcao Li¹, Weiming Li², Wanying Huang¹, Hua Jin³, Chi Cheng⁴, Chuang Xue⁵

Affiliations

¹ MOE Key Laboratory of Bio-Intelligent Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Centre for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; Ningbo Institute of Dalian University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China.
² Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
³ School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
⁴ MOE Key Laboratory of Bio-Intelligent Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Centre for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; Ningbo Institute of Dalian University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China. Electronic address: cheng.chi@dlut.edu.cn.
⁵ MOE Key Laboratory of Bio-Intelligent Manufacturing, Frontiers Science Centre for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; Ningbo Institute of Dalian University of Technology, Ningbo 315016, China. Electronic address: xue.1@dlut.edu.cn.

PMID: 40578494
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108632

Abstract

The conversion of CO₂ into fuels and chemicals via biological routes has gained significant attention due to its high efficiency and mild reaction conditions. However, biological CO₂ fixation faces several challenges, including the low solubility of CO₂, the poor stability of free enzymes and cells under harsh conditions, and the high cost of cofactors such as NAD(P)H. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with their unique characteristics including high surface area, tunable pore structure, and ease for functionalization, have emerged as promising candidates to address these limitations. When integrated into biological CO₂ fixation systems, MOFs serve multiple functions: as CO₂ capture agents, enzyme immobilization carriers, cellular protective layers, and scaffolds for photosensitizers and electron mediators for efficient cofactor regeneration. Despite extensive reviews on MOF-based chemical CO₂ conversion, their applications in biological CO₂ fixation have not been reviewed. This review first introduces the characteristics and synthesis methods of MOFs, followed by an in-depth exploration of MOFs applications in biological CO₂ fixation systems. For enzyme-based systems, this review explores strategies for enzyme immobilization and synergistic integration of other key catalytic components within MOFs, and discusses the multifaceted roles of MOFs in these hybrid systems, and their applications in enzymatic catalysis, photoenzymatic catalysis, and enzymatic electrosynthesis. Regarding living-cell based systems, MOF-cell integration through physical mixing or self-assembly is explored, with analysis of the mechanisms by which MOFs facilitate living cell-based CO₂ fixation. The final section addresses current challenges in the field, including issues related to scale-up and environmental impacts, while providing perspectives on future development directions.

Keywords: Biological CO(2) fixation; Cellular CO(2) fixation; Enzymatic electrosynthesis; Enzyme immobilization; Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs); Photoenzymatic catalysis.

Publication types

Review