An innovative enzymatic metal organic frameworks nanobiosorbent with interfaced keratin for superior and synergic uptake of doxorubicin and neutral red pollutants

Background Contamination of water with hazardous organics is a global problem because these compounds resist natural degradation and threaten human health. Among them, waste pharmaceuticals and dyes are particularly hazardous when discharged into water resources. Aim Current research focuses on developing low-cost, eco-friendly, sustainable, and efficient technologies for wastewater remediation. In this study, we report the fabrication of a novel nanobiosorbent, Enz-MIL-88 A@KRT, synthesized by immobilizing an enzymatic metal-organic framework (Enz-MIL-88 A) with keratin (KRT). Methods Keratin was extracted by using a cysteine reducing agent from chicken nail waste and confirmed to coordinate with Cu 2+ ions, as evidenced by FTIR (peak at 555 cm −1 ) and XRD (2Ɵ = 15.22°, 18.45° and 28.48°). Results The resulting nanobiosorbent demonstrated remarkable adsorption efficiency, achieving 93.52% and 96.48% removal of doxorubicin (Dox) and neutral red dye (Nrd), respectively, within 40 min at 20 °C and pH 6. The removal was attributed to electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, and pore-filling. Adsorption data were highly fitted to the Freundlich expression (R 2 = 0.919 for Dox and 0.983 for Nrd), indicating multilayer adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces. Notably, the Enz-MIL-88 A@KRT nanobiosorbent retained high performance after five reuse cycles, confirming its efficient stability and reusability. Conclusion These findings could establish Enz-MIL-88 A@KRT as a sustainable and highly efficient nanobiosorbent, highlighting its potential for wastewater treatment and resource valorization, while addressing critical water pollution challenges.