Synthesis of Polyhedral Metal-Organic Framework@Mesoporous Silica Hybrid Nanocomposites with Branched Shapes

The structural modulation of multicompartment porous nanomaterials is one of the major challenges of nanoscience. Herein, by utilizing the polyhedral effects/characteristics of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), we present a versatile approach to construct MOF-organosilica hybrid branched nanocomposites with MOF cores, SiO₂ shells, and periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) branches. The morphology, structure, and functions of the obtained hybrid nanocomposites can be facilely modulated by varying particle size, shape, or crystalline structures of the MOF cores. Specifically, these branched multicompartment porous nanoparticles exhibit evasion behaviors in epithelial cells compared with macrophage cells, which may endow them great potential as a vehicle for immunotherapy.