Effect of Silicone Patch Containing Metal-organic Framework on Hypertrophic Scar Suppression

BACKGROUND/AIM

Hypertrophic scars (HS) are an abnormal cutaneous condition of wound healing characterized by excessive fibrosis and disrupted collagen deposition. This study assessed the potential of a silicone patch embedded with chemically stable zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOF)-808 structures to mitigate HS formation using a rabbit ear model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A silicone patch was strategically engineered by incorporating Zr-MOF-808, a composite structure comprising metal ions and organic ligands. Structural integrity of the Zr-MOF-808 silicone patch was validated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The animals were divided into three groups: a control, no treatment group (Group 1), a silicone patch treatment group (Group 2), and a group treated with a 0.2% loaded Zr-MOF-808 silicone patch (Group 3). HS suppression effects were quantified using scar elevation index (SEI), dorsal skin thickness measurements, and myofibroblast protein expression.

RESULTS

Histopathological examination of post-treatment HS samples revealed substantial reductions in SEI (34.6%) and epidermal thickness (49.5%) in Group 3. Scar hyperplasia was significantly diminished by 53.5% (p<0.05), while collagen density declined by 15.7% in Group 3 compared to Group 1. Western blot analysis of protein markers, including TGF-β1, collagen-1, and α-SMA, exhibited diminished levels by 8.8%, 12%, and 21.3%, respectively, in Group 3, and substantially higher levels by 21.9%, 27%, and 39.9%, respectively, in Group 2. On the 35th day post-wound generation, Zr-MOF-808-treated models exhibited smoother, less conspicuous, and flatter scars.

CONCLUSION

Zr-MOF-808-loaded silicone patch reduced HS formation in rabbit ear models by inducing the proliferation and remodeling of the wound healing process.

Site-Specific Antibody Assembly on Nanoparticles via a Versatile Coating Method for Improved Cell Targeting

Antibody-nanoparticle conjugates are promising candidates for precision medicine. However, developing a controllable method for conjugating antibodies to nanoparticles without compromising the antibody activity represents a critical challenge. Here, a facile and generalizable film-coating method is presented using zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) to immobilize antibodies on various nanoparticles in a favorable orientation for enhanced cell targeting. Different model and therapeutic antibodies (e.g., Herceptin) are assembled on nanoparticles via a biomineralized film-coating method and exhibited high antibody loading and targeting efficiencies. Importantly, the antibodies selectively bind to ZIF-8 via their Fc regions, which favorably exposes the functional Fab regions to the biological target, thus improving the cell targeting ability of antibody-coated nanoparticles. In combination, molecular dynamics simulations and experimental studies on antibody immobilization, orientation efficiency, and biofunctionality collectively demonstrate that this versatile site-specific antibody conjugation method provides effective control over antibody orientation and leads to improved cell targeting for a variety of nanoparticles.

A Review on Metal-Organic Frameworks as Congenial Heterogeneous Catalysts for Potential Organic Transformations

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as versatile candidates of interest in heterogeneous catalysis. Recent research and developments with MOFs positively endorse their role as catalysts in generating invaluable organic compounds. To harness the full potential of MOFs in value-added organic transformation, a comprehensive look at how these materials are likely to involve in the catalytic processes is essential. Mainstays of MOFs such as metal nodes, linkers, encapsulation materials, and enveloped structures tend to produce capable catalytic active sites that offer solutions to reduce human efforts in developing new organic reactions. The main advantages of choosing MOFs as reusable catalysts are the flexible and robust skeleton, regular porosity, high pore volume, and accessible synthesis accompanied with cost-effectiveness. As hosts for active metals, sole MOFs, modified MOFs, and MOFs have made remarkable advances as solid catalysts. The extensive exploration of the MOFs possibly led to their fast adoption in fabricating new biological molecules such as pyridines, quinolines, quinazolinones, imines, and their derivatives. This review covers the varied MOFs and their catalytic properties in facilitating the selective formation of the product organic moieties and interprets MOF’s property responsible for their elegant performance.

An Inhalable Theranostic System for Local Tuberculosis Treatment Containing an Isoniazid Loaded Metal Organic Framework Fe-MIL-101-NH2-From Raw MOF to Drug Delivery System

The theranostic approach to local tuberculosis treatment allows drug delivery and imaging of the lungs for a better control and personalization of antibiotic therapy. Metal-organic framework (MOF) Fe-MIL-101-NH2 nanoparticles were loaded with isoniazid. To optimize their functionality a 2³ factorial design of spray-drying with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and leucine was employed. Powder aerodynamic properties were assessed using a twin stage impinger based on the dose emitted and the fine particle fraction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast capabilities were tested on porous lung tissue phantom and ex vivo rat lungs. Cell viability and uptake studies were conducted on murine macrophages RAW 246.9. The final product showed good aerodynamic properties, modified drug release, easier uptake by macrophages in relation to raw isoniazid-MOF, and MRI contrast capabilities. Starting from raw MOF, a fully functional inhalable theranostic system with a potential application in personalized tuberculosis pulmonary therapy was developed.

Metal-Organic Frameworks as Catalyst Supports: Influence of Lattice Disorder on Metal Nanoparticle Formation

Because of their high tunability and surface area, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show great promise as supports for metal nanoparticles. Depending on the synthesis route, MOFs may contain defects. Here, we show that highly crystalline MIL-100(Fe) and disordered Basolite® F300, with identical iron 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate composition, exhibit very divergent properties when used as a support for Pd nanoparticle deposition. While MIL-100(Fe) shows a regular MTN-zeotype crystal structure with two types of cages, Basolite® F300 lacks long-range order beyond 8 Å and has a single-pore system. The medium-range configurational linker-node disorder in Basolite® F300 results in a reduced number of Lewis acid sites, yielding more hydrophobic surface properties compared to hydrophilic MIL-100(Fe). The hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature of MIL-100(Fe) and Basolite® F300 impacts the amount of Pd and particle size distribution of Pd nanoparticles deposited during colloidal synthesis and dry impregnation methods, respectively. It is suggested that polar (apolar) solvents/precursors attractively interact with hydrophilic (hydrophobic) MOF surfaces, allowing tools at hand to increase the level of control over, for example, the nanoparticle size distribution.

Fabrication of Monodisperse Flower-Like Coordination Polymers (CP) Microparticles by Spray Technique

In this manuscript, we have developed an efficient spraying method to successfully fabricate a series of flower-like coordination polymers (CP) microparticles, including Co/BDC (1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) metal organic frameworks (MOF) and infinite coordination polymers (ICP) microparticles, as well as Ni-Co/BDC MOF and Zn/DOBDC (2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) MOF. The spraying method has shown high efficiency and universality in synthesizing the flower-like CP. The crystalline structure can be adjusted by varying the solvent composition in the spraying process. SEM observation demonstrated the MOF and ICP microparticles possess the similar flower-like structure, which is composed of nanoflakes with smooth surface, and the flower-like microparticles could be monodisperse with as low as 5% polydispersity. Moreover, the fabrication of the flower-like CP microparticles by spraying has a wide operation window, because there is no need to precisely control the experiment conditions, like solvents, concentration, and spray order. Due to the practicality of spray technique, this work would pave the way for the manufacture of the flower-like materials and have great potential in applications of catalysis, sensor, energy storage, and so on.