An Inquiry into the Synthesis of Zinc/Chelidonate-based MOFs and Their Potential Uses in the Prevention of Hernia Mesh Infections
Date
2022-05
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Florida Southern College
Abstract
A hernia is one of the most common medical issues that occurs in the entire world,
affecting millions of people yearly. As part of the surgery to repair a hernia, the physician will often insert a mesh material to prevent recurrence of the hernia. Despite their high efficacy in preventing recurrence of the hernia, these hernia meshes are unfortunately prone to infection. Hernia mesh infections affect thousands of people every year and cost the individuals large amounts of unnecessary time and money. The field of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has opened up a promising path towards solving this issue. The successful synthesis of antimicrobial MOFs and biocompatible MOFs demonstrates that there is merit in pursuing biomedical applications. With the help of antimicrobial materials like MOFs it may be possible to prevent these postoperative infections. Synthesis of a Zn-based analogue to a previously characterized antimicrobial Cu-basedMOF, me137, was successful. The results of this study indicate that control of both morphology and structure in Zn-based MOFs is possible. Additionally, the Zn-based MOFs appear to be more chemically stable than similar Cu-based MOFs. Antimicrobial assays have demonstrated that the Zn-based MOFs are capable of inhibiting the growth of E. coli and S. aureus. Early adhesion tests have shown that growth of Compound 1 (RV22) onto unmodified polypropylene is not an interaction that readily occurs. Thus, methods for modifying polypropylene to take on a form more conducive to MOF adhesion was investigated. A method for oxidizing polypropylene with the use of KMnO4, NaOH, and heat was found to be successful, but adhesion of Compound 1 onto the oxidized polypropylene has not yet been achieved.
Description
Honors Thesis Spring 2022
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Keywords
Hernia, Metal-organic frameworks, Anti-infective agents