Water-Stable Metal-Organic Framework/Polymer Composites Compatible with Human Hepatocytes

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Materials Chemistry

Background:

• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly copper-based ones (CuBTTri), show promise for drug delivery and therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) generation.
• NO possesses anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiplatelet properties, making it a target for medical applications.
• Previous research incorporated CuBTTri into polymers for NO-generating materials, but copper toxicity due to MOF degradation remained a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cytotoxicity of a novel NO-generating CuBTTri/polymer composite material.
• To assess the stability and NO-releasing capabilities of the composite for potential biomedical use.

Main Methods:

• CuBTTri/polymer films were fabricated using plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC).
• Material characterization included PXRD, ATR-FTIR, and SEM-EDX.
• Nitric oxide generation was quantified using S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). Cytotoxicity was assessed using 3T3-J2 fibroblasts and primary human hepatocytes (PHHs).

Main Results:

• The CuBTTri/polymer films demonstrated enhanced NO generation from SNAP, with an average NO flux of 0.90 ± 0.13 nmol cm⁻² min⁻¹, suitable for antithrombogenic surfaces.
• Films exhibited excellent stability in PBS and cell culture media over 4 weeks, with cumulative copper release below 1%.
• In vitro studies showed no significant toxicity in either fibroblast or hepatocyte cell lines.

Conclusions:

• The CuBTTri/polymer composite material effectively generates therapeutic levels of NO.
• The material displays robust stability and minimal copper leaching under physiological conditions.
• The absence of significant cytotoxicity supports the potential of CuBTTri-based materials for biomedical applications.