Encapsulation of Snail Slime in Metal–Organic Framework ZIF-8

The literature consistently identifies Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) as an excellent material for on-demand drug delivery. Its appeal results from its superior loading capacity, inherent stability within physiological environments, and the ability to fine-tune its drug release kinetics. In this work, we investigated the encapsulation of snail slime extracted from <i>Cornu aspersum</i> mucus into ZIF-8. PXRD, SEM microscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy were used for a detailed characterization of the nanoparticles. The antibacterial potential of the ZIF-8-based biocomposite was assayed in vitro against <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>. Overall, the results indicate that encapsulating the snail slime within ZIF-8 enhances its antibacterial activity, yielding a potent antimicrobial material.