Stimuli-responsive metal-organic framework nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery and medical applications

Photooxidation-Driven Purely Organic Room-Temperature Phosphorescent Lysosome-Targeted Imaging

The construction of host-guest-binding-induced phosphorescent supramolecular assemblies has become one of increasingly significant topics in biomaterial research. Herein, we demonstrate that the cucurbit[8]uril host can induce the anthracene-conjugated bromophenylpyridinium guest to form a linear supramolecular assembly, thus facilitating the enhancement of red fluorescence emission by the host-stabilized charge-transfer interactions. When the anthryl group is photo-oxidized to anthraquinone, the obtained linear nanoconstructs can be readily converted into the homoternary inclusion complex, accompanied by the emergence of strong green phosphorescence in aqueous solution. More intriguingly, dual organelle-targeted imaging abilities have been also distinctively achieved in nuclei and lysosomes after undergoing photochemical reaction upon UV irradiation. This photooxidation-driven purely organic room-temperature phosphorescence provides a convenient and feasible strategy for supramolecular organelle identification to track specific biospecies and physiological events in the living cells.

When metal-organic framework mediated smart drug delivery meets gastrointestinal cancers

Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract constitute one of the most common cancer types worldwide and a ∼58% increase in the global number of cases has been estimated by IARC for the next twenty years. Recent advances in drug delivery technologies have attracted scientific interest for developing and utilizing efficient therapeutic systems. The present review focuses on the use of nanoscale MOFs (Nano-MOFs) as carriers for drug delivery and imaging purposes. In pursuit of significant improvements to current gastrointestinal cancer chemotherapy regimens, systems that allow multiple concomitant therapeutic options (polytherapy) and controlled release are highly desirable. In this sense, MOF-based nanotherapeutics represent a significant step towards achieving this goal. Here, the current state-of-the-art of interdisciplinary research and novel developments into MOF-based gastrointestinal cancer therapy are highlighted and reviewed.

A highly stable metal–organic framework with cubane-like clusters for the selective oxidation of aryl alkenes to aldehydes or ketones

A novel MOF with cubane-like clusters was prepared based on an electron-deficient triazine derivative, and it exhibits excellent thermal and chemical stability and can be used for the selective oxidation of aryl alkenes to aldehydes or ketones in mild conditions.

A multi-responsive MOF-based fluorescent probe for detecting Fe3+, Cr2O72− and acetylacetone

A novel ZnII-based MOF can selectively and sensitively recognize Fe3+, Cr2O72− and acetylacetone, simultaneously.

Two isomeric zeolite-like metal–organic frameworks with mechanically responsive luminescence emission and gas adsorption properties

The two isomeric zeolite-like metal–organic frameworks based on tetrahedral TPO3− ligands and tetrahedrally connected Cd2+ ions were prepared. One of the compounds shows mechanic-responsive luminescence after the crystals were ground for different time.