Sterol Uptake by an Alkali-β-Cyclodextrin Metal-Organic Framework

beta-Cyclodextrin is well-known in cellular biology for its ability to moderate cholesterol levels in lipid bilayer membranes. Its use in extended network solids remains elusive due to the low symmetry of this macrocyclic system. Self-assembly of two different beta-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with extended nanotube structures is achieved by crystallization with excess potassium hydroxide, one in the presence of cholesterol. We then further demonstrate the proclivity of one of these MOFs to absorb cholesterol and two other sterols from solution using NMR and confocal microscopy techniques. This work demonstrates that these network solids show great potential in both substrate delivery and/or extraction.