Exploring Chromium-Based MOF for Uremic Toxin Capture: A Promising Alternative Strategy for Affordable Dialysis Solutions

The progressive accumulation of uremic toxins is a defining biochemical hallmark of renal dysfunction and continues to challenge the efficiency of existing dialysis technologies. Advancing sorbent-assisted purification systems, therefore, requires material capable of selectively capturing structurally diverse metabolites under physiologically relevant conditions. In this work, we evaluate a hydrolytically robust chromium-based MOF, Cr-IA, as a multifunctional adsorbent for four clinically significant uremic solutes: creatinine, uric acid, p-cresol, and hippuric acid. Leveraging its well-defined pore network, accessible coordination sites, and exceptional aqueous stability, Cr-IA demonstrates strong and toxin-specific adsorption behavior not only in water but also across physiologically relevant buffers (HEPES, PBS and Tyrode solutions) and real-sample matrices, including urine-mimicking solution and human blood serum. Both kinetic and thermodynamic evaluations further reveal that adsorption proceeds through diffusion-dominated, entropy-driven physisorption, consistent with pseudo-first-order, mixed-kinetic, and Elovich model behavior depending on the analyte. A comprehensive set of concentration, pH, and temperature-dependent adsorption experiments was performed to assess how environmental factors influence toxin uptake. UV–Vis. kinetic measurements show rapid adsorption for creatinine, hippuric acid, and p-cresol, while uric acid consistently displays the highest affinity, maintaining strong uptake even in protein-rich serum. Cr-IA also exhibits predictable, parameter-responsive adsorption behavior, reflecting efficient diffusion pathways and stable host–guest interactions across all tested media. Spectroscopic and surface analyses (FTIR, XPS, and zeta potential) further confirm that adsorption is governed by a synergistic combination of coordination interactions at Cr(III) centers, hydrogen bonding, and π–π interactions, with secondary electrostatic contributions. Importantly, the material retains its adsorption hierarchy and performance in biologically crowded matrices, demonstrating structural resilience and practical biomedical applicability. These findings establish Cr-IA as a promising candidate for low-cost sorbent-assisted dialysis, extracorporeal detoxification, and next-generation artificial kidney systems, providing a stable platform for effective uremic toxin management.