One-step synthesis of carboxyl-functionalized metal-organic framework with binary ligands for highly selective enrichment of N-linked glycopeptides

Highly efficient and selective enrichment of glycopeptides from complex biosamples is vital prior to mass spectrometry analysis. In this work, a hydrophilic metal organic framework with free carboxylic groups (denoted as UiO-66-COOH) was synthesized in one step with binary ligands. Compared with pure UiO-66 with one ligand, UiO-66-COOH containing binary ligands demonstrated greater hydrophilicity and performed much better in selective enrichment of glycopeptides. The as-prepared material demonstrated excellent performance for selective enrichment of glycopeptides from tryptic digests of standard glycoproteins and practical biological samples. [Display omitted] •One-step synthesis of carboxyl-functionalized metal-organic framework (denoted as UiO-66-COOHs) with binary ligands.•Excellent hydrophilicity, high selectivity and sensitivity for glycopeptide enrichment.•This method offered a new platform of MOFs’ modification for glycopeptide enrichment.