Puffed-up MOFs show improved performance as drug-delivery vehicles

The spongelike structure of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) allows these polymers to possibly carry and deliver a range of therapeutic compounds. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Bio Materials treated a chromium-containing MOF with a dose of acetic acid, more concentrated than in vinegar, to expand its pore size and surface area. The puffed-up MOFs held more ibuprofen or chemotherapy drug compared to the original version and had improved performance as a potential drug-delivery vehicle.

Taking medications by mouth is a convenient way to administer pharmaceuticals. However, this method sometimes involves ingesting several pills per day, or requires large pills that can be difficult to swallow. So, researchers are investigating how to use MOFs for drug delivery to minimize dosing frequency and maximize treatment efficiency. By customizing the polymers' pore sizes and structures, scientists have created nanoscale vehicles that may offer more controlled and targeted drug release. However, to carry and deliver even more drug molecules, the pores would need to expand further than current versions can. A research team led by Fateme Rezaei at the University of Miami wanted to optimize an existing MOF and improve the polymer's delivery of two common therapeutics of different molecular sizes: the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen and a smaller compound 5-fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer.

They started with an established method to synthesize a biocompatible chromium-containing MOF and added a step with an acetic acid rinse. The acid caused the polymer's pores to expand from about 2.5 nanometers (nm) to 5 nm wide. In laboratory experiments to characterize the MOF's drug-loading capability, the researchers observed that the puffed-up version took in more ibuprofen and 5-fluorouracil molecules than the chromium-containing framework with standard-sized pores. Then, in drug-delivery experiments, they loaded the pore-expanded and standard MOFs with either ibuprofen or 5-flurouracil and measured how quickly the drugs passed into a saline solution. Rezaei and colleagues found that the new frameworks released both drugs substantially faster than the original ones. The researchers attributed the higher drug loading and release rates to the larger pores and surface area of the expanded framework, which provides larger "doors" for the drug molecules to enter and exit through.

Simple changes such as these could maximize the effectiveness of MOFs in future drug-delivery applications, the researchers say. As a next step, they plan to determine how slow and progressive drug release within specified time frames can be achieved by modifying MOF pore structure.

Source:
Journal reference:

Pederneira, N., et al. (2024). Performance of MIL-101(Cr) and MIL-101(Cr)-Pore Expanded as Drug Carriers for Ibuprofen and 5-Fluorouracil Delivery. ACS Applied Bio Materials. doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.3c01007.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
Inside the Alzheimer's Association: Dr. Heather Snyder on Driving Research and Collaboration