Metal Organic Framework@Polysilsesequioxane Core/Shell-Structured Nanoplatform for Drug Delivery

Gold/platinum nanorods/temozolomide-UiO-66-NH2 metal-organic frameworks incorporated to chitosan-grafted polycaprolactone/polycaprolactone core-shell nanofibers for glioblastoma treatment during chemo-photothermal therapy

The use of biocompatible metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and electrospun nanofibrous implants shows promise in preventing the recurrence of postsurgical glioblastoma. In this study, temozolomide (TMZ) and platinum‑gold nanorods (PtAu NRs) were encapsulated into the UiO-66-NH2 MOFs. These were then incorporated into the chitosan-grafted polycaprolactone (PCL) (core)/PCL (shell) nanofibers coated with PtAu NRs for extended release of TMZ during chemo-photothermal therapy against glioblastoma cells. The drug encapsulation efficiency, TMZ release, and in vitro cell viability were investigated for the MOFs, simple nanofibers, core-shell nanofibers, and MOFs-nanofibers. The extended release of TMZ occurred over 44 and 36 days from the core-shell nanofibers coated with PtAu NRs under NIR irradiation at pH values of 7.4 and 5, respectively. The maximum killing of U87 glioblastoma cells was 80.2 % using TMZ-Pt-Au-MOF-core-shell nanofibers coated with PtAu under NIR irradiation. The relative tumor size for the mice bearing glioblastoma and treated with pure core-shell nanofibers, TMZ-Pt-Au-MOF, and TMZ-Pt-Au-MOF-core-shell nanofibers coated with PtAu without NIR irradiation and with NIR irradiation was 4.12, 2.12, 1.65, 0.86, and 0.48, respectively, after 30 days. The synthesized MOF-core-shell nanofibers-Pt-Au NRs implantable device shows potential as a new approach for postsurgical glioblastoma treatment during chemo-photothermal therapy.

Cyclodextrin metal-organic framework@SiO2 nanocomposites for poorly soluble drug loading and release

The development of non-toxic drug carrier materials with high loading capacity, sustained release properties, stability, and biocompatibility holds significant medical value and potential for loading and releasing poorly soluble drugs. In this study, we synthesized a biocompatible, non-toxic, environmentally friendly CD-MOF porous material with high specific surface area and tunable structure. By incorporating SiO2 to enhance the stability of MOF materials, the synthesized CD-MOF@SiO2 material shows promising applications in drug delivery. The obtained CD-MOF@SiO2 nanocomposite was utilized as a carrier for the poorly soluble drug, folic acid. Characterization of the drug-loaded composite before and after drug loading was performed using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption, and X-ray diffraction analyses, showing improved stability as indicated by thermogravimetric analysis and derivative thermogravimetry data. UV spectrophotometry was used to investigate the loading and sustained release of folic acid under different conditions in PBS buffer, demonstrating that the well-structured CD-MOF@SiO2 material exhibits high drug loading and controllable release properties. The CD-MOF@SiO2 achieved a high drug loading efficiency (166.78%) and encapsulation rate (83.39%) for folic acid, leading to a significant increase in apparent solubility from 1.6 μg mL-1 in its free form to 21.74 mg mL-1, a 13 588-fold expansion. This work presents a novel, efficient, and highly valuable approach for the development of carrier materials for loading and releasing poorly soluble drugs.

Polysilsesquioxane decorated ZIF-8 as a potential pH-responsive vehicle for topical delivery and release of acyclovir and tetracycline: Investigation of blood compatibility, cytotoxicity and antibacterial properties

In this research, poly-chloropropylmethyl-silsesquioxanen was prepared and decorated with ZIF-8 in order to investigate its loading capacity for acyclovir and tetracycline. Before and after drug loadings, the composites were characterized by FT-IR, SEM-EDS, XRD, and XPS analyses. Then, the in-vitro release of these drugs was investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy in different buffers (pH = 5, 7.4, and 9.1). The results showed that the release of ACV reached a maximum amount of 41.3 mg at pH = 7.4 during 12 h. In comparison, the release of TC reached a maximum amount of 22.5 mg at pH = 5 during 6 h. The blood compatibility, in-vitro cytotoxicity on the L929 fibroblast cells line, and antibacterial assay against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also investigated for this composite as a drug carrier.

Recent advances of the core-shell MOFs in tumour therapy

Coordination chemistry has always been vital to explore the material prominence of metal-organic systems. The metal-organic chemistry plays a fundamental role in decisive structural features, which are accountable for tuning the properties of materials. Tumour therapy has become an important research field of medical treatment in the world. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted extensive interest in medical science research due to their large effective surface area, clear pore network, and critical catalytic performance. Compared with traditional MOF materials, MOF materials with core-shell structures have a higher loading rate and better stability, which can overcome a single function. They have been successfully used in tumour medical research and have excellent prospects for diagnosing and treating various tumours. The current review article thoroughly describes the various synthetic approaches for engineering core-shell MOF materials, the structural types, and the potential functional applications. We also discussed core-shell MOF materials for the various treatment of tumours, such as tumour chemotherapy, tumour phototherapy and tumour microenvironment anti-hypoxia therapy. In this paper, the synthesized procedures of core-shell MOFs and their applications for tumour treatment have been discussed, and their future research has prospected. The current improved strategies, challenges, and prospects are also presented because of the metal-organic chemistry governing the structural modification of core-shell MOFs for tumour therapy applications. Therefore, the present review article opens a new door for medicinal chemists to tune the structural features of the core-shell MOF materials to modulate tumour therapy with simple, low-cost materials for better human lives.

Nanosized biligated metal-organic framework systems for enhanced cellular and mitochondrial sequential targeting of hepatic carcinoma

Mitochondria are reported to play a paramount role in tumorigenesis which positions them as an instrumental druggable target. However, selective drug delivery to cancer-localized mitochondria remains challenging. Herein, we report for the first time, the design, development and evaluation of a hepatic cancer-specific mitochondria-targeted dual ligated nanoscale metal-organic framework (NMOF) for cellular and mitochondrial sequential drug delivery. Surface functionalization was performed through covalent-linking of folic acid and triphenylphosphonium moieties to the aminated Zr-based MOF, NH₂-UiO-66. The characterization of the dual-ligated NMOFs using XRD, FTIR, DSC and BET analysis proved the successful conjugation process. Assessment of the drug loading and release profiling of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded NMOF confirmed the proper retention of the drug within the NMOF porous structure alongside enhanced release in the tumor acidic environment. Furthermore, biological evaluation of the anti-tumor activity of the DOX-loaded dual-ligated NMOF on hepatocellular carcinoma affirmed the superiority of the developed system in killing the cancerous cells via apoptosis induction and halting cell cycle progression. This study attempts to underscore the promising potential of surface functionalized NMOFs in developing anticancer drug delivery systems to achieve targeted therapy.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of nanoformulations composed of metal-organic frameworks delivering rutin and/or piperine natural agents

Plant-derived natural medicines have been extensively studied for anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties, but challenges to their clinical use include low bioavailability, poor solubility in water, and difficult-to-control release kinetics. Nanomedicine may offer innovative solutions that can enhance the therapeutic activity and control release kinetics of these agents, opening the way to translating them into the clinic. Two agents of particular interest are rutin (Ru), a flavonoid, and piperine (Pip), an alkaloid, which exhibit a range of pharmacological activities that include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this work, nanoformulations were developed consisting of two metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with surface modifications, Ti-MOF and Zr-MOF, each of them loaded with Ru and/or Pip. Both MOFs and nanoformulations were characterized and evaluated in vivo for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Loadings of ∼17 wt.% for a single pro-drug and ∼27 wt.% for dual loading were achieved. The release patterns for Ru and or Pip followed two stages: a zero-order for the first 12-hour stage, and a second stage of stable sustained release. At pH 7.4, the release patterns best fit to zero-order and Korsmeyer–Peppas kinetic models. The nanoformulations had enhanced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects than any of their elements singly, and those with Ru or Pip alone showed stronger effects than those with both agents. Results of assays using a paw edema model, leukocyte migration, and plasma antioxidant capacity were in agreement. Our preliminary findings indicate that nanoformulations with these agents exert better anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects than the agents in their free form.