A series of luminescent Ln(3+)@bio-MOF-1 (Ln = Eu, Tb, bio-MOF-1 = Zn-8(ad)(4)(BPDC)(6)O.2Me(2)NH(2) (ad = adeninate, BPDC = biphenyldicarboxylate)) are synthesized via postsynthetic cation exchange by encapsulating lanthanide ions into an anionic metal-organic framework (MOF), and their photophysical properties are studied. After loading 2-thenoyltrifluroacetone (TTA) as sensitized ligand by a gas diffusion ("ship-in-bottle") method, it is found that the luminescent intensity of Eu3+ is enhanced. Especially, when loading two different lanthanide cations into bio-MOF-1, the luminescent color can be tuned to close white (light pink) light output. Additionally, bio-MOF-1 and Eu3+@bio-MOF-1 are selected as representative samples for sensing metal ions. When bio-MOF-1 is immersed in the aqueous solutions of different metal ions, it shows highly sensitive sensing for Fe3+ as well as Eu3+@bio-MOF-1 immersed in the DMP solutions of different metal ion. The results are benefit for the further application of functionalized bio-MOFs in practical fields. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.