Metal-organic Nanopharmaceuticals.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Nanoparticles are attractive for drug delivery due to their circulation and cargo capacity.
• High loading capacity is crucial for nanopharmaceuticals to minimize patient exposure.
• Drug molecules with Lewis base functions can self-assemble into metal-organic nanopharmaceuticals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review applications and examples of nanoscale coordination polymers (NCPs) as highly functional nanopharmaceuticals.
• To highlight the high 'material economy' and tailorable properties of these drug-based nanomaterials.
• To discuss the potential of NCPs for combination therapy and theranostic applications.

Main Methods:

• Assembly of drug derivatives with Lewis base functions and multivalent metal ions.
• Formation of nanoscale coordination polymers (NCPs) through coordinative interactions.
• Characterization of NCPs for drug loading, pharmacokinetics, and multifunctional properties.

Main Results:

• NCPs demonstrate exceptionally high drug loading capacities as drug molecules form the primary building blocks.
• Metal ions can be selected for favorable pharmacological or physicochemical properties, enhancing NCP functionality.
• NCPs can be tailored for pharmacotherapy, photosensitization, imaging, chemodynamic therapy, or radiosensitization.

Conclusions:

• NCPs represent a versatile platform for developing multifunctional nanopharmaceuticals with high material economy.
• The assembly into NCPs modulates drug pharmacokinetics and combines therapeutic action with metal-derived properties.
• These advanced nanomaterials offer a strategy for generating tailorable nanoparticles for diverse pharmaceutical applications.