article · Applied Organometallic Chemistry
Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles provide a porous material for biomedical applications due to high loading capacity and pH-sensitive degradation. Doxorubicin, a standard chemotherapy drug, was encapsulated into ZIF-8 nanoparticles using a single-pot synthesis method to control drug release and prevent premature loss. Drug release occurs faster at an acidic pH of 5 than at a physiological pH of 7.4. Empty ZIF-8 nanoparticles exhibit low cytotoxicity, whereas the drug-loaded formulation demonstrates significantly higher cytotoxicity against human breast (MCF-7) and liver (HepG-2) cancer cell lines compared to free doxorubicin at concentrations above 12.5 micrograms per millilitre. The composite material also displays antibacterial activity, showing strong inhibition against Escherichia coli compared with gentamycin. Molecular docking confirmed binding between doxorubicin and specific cancer-associated protein receptors.
Conventional chemotherapy often causes systemic toxicity because drugs can dissipate before reaching target tumours. By using porous nanoparticles that release their payload preferentially in acidic environments, treatment can be focused more directly on cancer cells while reducing carrier toxicity. The additional antibacterial capability against pathogens like Escherichia coli suggests potential versatility in treating secondary infections during cancer therapy.
This research represents early-stage laboratory work that could interest oncology and nanomedicine developers working on controlled drug delivery. The approach could enable pharmaceutical formulators to improve the targeting of established chemotherapeutic agents. However, with testing confined to cell cultures, diffusion assays, and computational docking, extensive animal studies, toxicity profiling, and manufacturing scale-up will be necessary before any clinical development pathway emerges.
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Metal–organic framework (MOF) nano particles are a class of promising porous nano materials for biomedical applications. Owing to its high loading potential and pH‐sensitive degradation, most promising of the MOFs is the zeolitic imidazolate crystal framework (ZIF‐8), a progressive useful material for small molecule distribution. Doxorubicin (DOX), designated as a classical drug, was jobwise entrapped in ZIF‐8 nano particles. ZIF‐8 nano particles, as a novel carrier, were used to monitor the release of the anticancer drug DOX and prevent it from dissipating before reaching its goal. ZIF‐8 nano particles with encapsulated DOX (DOX@ZIF‐8) can be synthesized in a single pot by incorporation of DOX into the reaction mixture. MOFs and the designed drug delivery (DOX@ZIF‐8) system were characterized by Fourier transfer infrared, scanning electron microscopy, N 2 sorption isotherm and X‐ray diffraction. The impact of MOFs and the engineered drug delivery system on the viability of human breast and liver cancer cell lines was evaluated. The loaded drug was released at pH 5 faster than at pH 7.4. The nano particles of ZIF‐8 showed low cytotoxicity, while DOX@ZIF‐8 showed high cytotoxicity to HepG‐2 and MCF‐7 cells compared with free DOX at the equivalent concentration of DOX of >12.5 μg/ml. These findings indicate that DOX@ZIF‐8 nano particles are a promising method for the delivery of cancer cells to drugs. Furthermore, ZIF‐8, DOX and encapsulated DOX@ZIF‐8 compounds were screened for their potential antibacterial activities against pathogenic bacteria compared with standard antibiotics by the agar well diffusion technique. The results demonstrate that the DOX@ZIF‐8 exhibits a strong inhibition zone against Gram‐negative strains ( Escherichia coli ) in comparison with the reference drug gentamycin. The docking active site interactions were evaluated to predict the binding between DOX with the receptor of breast cancer 3hb5‐oxidoreductase and liver cancer 2h80‐lipid binding protein for anticancer activity.
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DOI: 10.1002/aoc.5905
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