Multifunctional trimetal-organic frameworks with enhanced fenton-like catalytic activity for inhibiting bacteria

Antibiotics and chemical disinfectants usually have serious problems of drug resistance and biosafety. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new alternative method, have been studied to inhibit bacteria attributed to their tunability of compositions and structures, ideal biocompatibility and great catalytic properties. In the current study, two trimetal-organic frameworks (Ni₁Co₁Fe₁-MOFs and Ni₆Co₃Fe₁-MOFs) with different atomic ratios of Ni/Co/Fe were synthesized by a simple one-pot room temperature method. The fabricated MOFs showed outstanding Fenton-like catalytic activities and Ni₁Co₁Fe₁-MOFs exerted greater catalytic activity. Based on a Fenton-like reaction, a high-efficiency antibacterial system was constructed. The manufactured Ni₁Co₁Fe₁-MOF/sodium alginate composite coating delayed the weight loss of apple chunks and effectively inhibited E. coli bacteria from polluted apple chunks after storage for 2 d, significantly improving the fruit storage. This study proposed a novel and effective antibacterial strategy, which would open up a promising idea for the exploitation of food antibacterial agents in the future.