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Amorphous metal-organic frameworks for drug delivery
Claudia Orellana-Tavra1, Emma F Baxter, Tian Tian
1Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, CB2 3RA Cambridge, UK. df334@cam.ac.uk.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|July 28, 2015
Summary
Amorphizing zirconium-based metal-organic framework UiO-66 using ball-milling enhances controlled release of encapsulated calcein for over 30 days. This amorphous formulation significantly extends drug delivery duration compared to crystalline UiO-66.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable porous structures for molecular encapsulation.
- UiO-66, a zirconium-based MOF, is known for its stability and potential in controlled release applications.
- Hydrophilic molecules like calcein are challenging to encapsulate and control release for.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of framework amorphization on the release kinetics of encapsulated hydrophilic molecules.
- To explore the potential of amorphous UiO-66 for prolonged controlled release applications.
- To compare the release profile of calcein from amorphous UiO-66 with its crystalline counterpart.
Main Methods:
- Encapsulation of the hydrophilic model molecule calcein within the UiO-66 MOF.
- Amorphization of the crystalline UiO-66 framework via ball-milling.
- In vitro release studies to monitor calcein release over time.
Main Results:
- Successful encapsulation of calcein within UiO-66.
- Demonstration of controlled release of calcein from amorphous UiO-66 for over 30 days.
- Significantly extended release period (30+ days) compared to crystalline UiO-66 (2 days).
Conclusions:
- Framework amorphization of UiO-66 by ball-milling is an effective strategy to prolong the release of hydrophilic molecules.
- Amorphous UiO-66 shows promise for advanced controlled release systems.
- This approach offers a new avenue for developing long-acting drug delivery systems using MOFs.
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