One-pot Synthesis of Metal–Organic Frameworks with Encapsulated Target Molecules and Their Applications for Controlled Drug Delivery

Abstract

Many medical and chemical applications require target molecules to be delivered in a controlled manner at precise locations. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have high porosity, large surface area, and tunable functionality and are promising carriers for such purposes. Current approaches for incorporating target molecules are based on multistep postfunctionalization. Here, we report a novel approach that combines MOF synthesis and molecule encapsulation in a one-pot process. We demonstrate that large drug and dye molecules can be encapsulated in zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) crystals. The molecules are homogeneously distributed within the crystals, and their loadings can be tuned. We show that ZIF-8 crystals loaded with the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) are efficient drug delivery vehicles in cancer therapy using pH-responsive release. Their efficacy on breast cancer cell lines is higher than that of free DOX. Our one-pot process opens new possibilities to construct multifunctional delivery systems for a wide range of applications.

Bio-Inspired Metal-Organic Frameworks in the Pharmaceutical World: A Brief Review

“…In this study, the doxorubicin: ZIF-8 complex, which aims to treat mucoepidermoid carcinoma of human lung, human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and human promyelocytic leukaemia (HL-60) cell lines, exhibits lower toxicity than pure doxorubicin, probably due to the slow release of the drug that is achieved with this complex (Figure 6) [69,104]. Furthermore, ZIF-8 crystals loaded with doxorubicin proved to be efficient pH-responsive drug delivery systems, in which the drug is released in a controlled manner at low pH (5.0-6.5).…”

“…One-pot synthesis is a new approach that combines MOF synthesis and molecule encapsulation in a one-pot process and that has been extremely used to overcome the drawbacks observed when using the two processes separately [104].…”

“…Furthermore, ZIF-8 crystals loaded with doxorubicin proved to be efficient pH-responsive drug delivery systems, in which the drug is released in a controlled manner at low pH (5.0-6.5). With this work, Zheng et al opened a new opportunity to develop multifunctional materials for biomedical applications using this simple, scalable, and environment-friendly one-pot synthesis [104]. …”

Efficient drug delivery of β-estradiol encapsulated in Zn-metal–organic framework nanostructures by microwave-assisted coprecipitation method

“…In the past two decades, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), as nanoporous particulate materials, have shown well-known properties such as desirable pore size, pore shape, large surface areas, and the ability to encapsulate compound and drugs 4. Magnetic MOFs, a special type of MOFs, have a wide range of applications such as adsorbents and separation 5.…”

Interfacial engineering of renewable metal organic framework derived honeycomb-like nanoporous aluminum hydroxide with tunable porosity

“…ZIF-8, a zinc-based metal organic framework, is very sensitive to acidic conditions, and totally degrades due to protonation of the imidazole ligand by H + in acidic solutions. 18,19 In light of this unique feature, ZIF-8 may be a good candidate as a template for the engineering of nanoporous materials accompanied by the in situ removal of the template synchronously if the pH value of the solution is below 7.…”