Tunable composites prepared from graphene oxide and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 for improved selective isolation of hemoglobin.

The authors report on the preparation of composites made from graphene oxide (GO) and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-GO), with various fractions of GO. GO acts as the template and as a modulator for the surface properties of the composites. It also improves the selective adsorption of specific proteins, i.e. hemoglobin (Hb) in this case. The adsorption capacity for Hb is as high as 436 mg g-1 when using a composite containing 20% of GO as sorbent, and 95% of specific activity is maintained for the Hb recovered. The sorbent is applied to selectively isolate Hb from human whole blood. Graphical abstract Graphene oxide-zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 composites (ZIF-GO) with varying mass ratios of GO were prepared in order to tune surface properties and to improve the adsorption selectivity toward hemoglobin.