title: Optimized metal-organic-framework nanospheres for drug delivery: evaluation of small-molecule encapsulation.
abstract: We have developed a general synthetic route to encapsulate small molecules in monodisperse zeolitic imid-azolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanospheres for drug delivery. Electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis show that the small-molecule-encapsulated ZIF-8 nanospheres are uniform 70 nm particles with single-crystalline structure. Several small molecules, including fluorescein and the anticancer drug camptothecin, were encapsulated inside of the ZIF-8 framework. Evaluation of fluorescein-encapsulated ZIF-8 nanospheres in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line demonstrated cell internalization and minimal cytotoxicity. The 70 nm particle size facilitates cellular uptake, and the pH-responsive dissociation of the ZIF-8 framework likely results in endosomal release of the small-molecule cargo, thereby rendering the ZIF-8 scaffold an ideal drug delivery vehicle. To confirm this, we demonstrate that camptothecin encapsulated ZIF-8 particles show enhanced cell death, indicative of internalization and intracellular release of the drug. To demonstrate the versatility of this ZIF-8 system, iron oxide nanoparticles were also encapsulated into the ZIF-8 nanospheres, thereby endowing magnetic features to these nanospheres.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College , Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, United States.
authors: Jia
authors: J
authors: Zhuang
authors: Chun-Hong
authors: CH
authors: Kuo
authors: Lien-Yang
authors: LY
authors: Chou
authors: De-Yu
authors: DY
authors: Liu
authors: Eranthie
authors: E
authors: Weerapana
authors: Chia-Kuang
authors: CK
authors: Tsung
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007093:Imidazoles; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D000077286:Cetrimonium