Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026
10:33
Generation of Alginate Microspheres for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 12, 2012
20.9K
Microfluidic-Assisted Synthesis of Metal-Organic Framework -Alginate Micro-Particles for Sustained Drug Delivery.
Akhilesh Bendre1, Vinayak Hegde1, Kanalli V Ajeya2
1Centre for Research in Functional Materials (CRFM), JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Jain Global Campus, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India.
Biosensors
|July 28, 2023
Summary
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) synthesized using microfluidics show promise for drug delivery. Incorporating these MOFs into sodium alginate beads enables sustained release of diclofenac sodium for up to six days.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Drug delivery systems (DDS) are crucial for managing complex diseases.
- Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer high surface area and functionalization for drug delivery.
- MOFs are underutilized in DDS despite their potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize Zeolitic Imidazole Framework-67 (ZIF-67) and its bimetallic variant (ZnZIF-67) using a microfluidic technique.
- To load diclofenac sodium into the synthesized MOFs.
- To incorporate MOF-drug complexes into sodium alginate beads for sustained drug release.
Main Methods:
- Microfluidic synthesis of ZIF-67 and ZnZIF-67 MOFs.
- Loading of diclofenac sodium into MOFs.
- Encapsulation of MOF-drug complexes within sodium alginate beads.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of ZIF-67 and ZnZIF-67 via microfluidics.
- MOF-loaded alginate beads demonstrated sustained drug release over 6 days.
- Unencapsulated MOFs showed rapid drug release within 24 hours.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidic synthesis is an effective method for creating MOF variants for DDS.
- Sodium alginate encapsulation significantly enhances the sustained release profile of MOF-based DDS.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for developing effective and long-lasting drug delivery systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Pore Transport and Ion-Pair Transport
Pore transport and ion-pair formation are critical mechanisms for the absorption and distribution of drugs in the body.
Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct microscopic...
Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct microscopic...
01:16Facilitated Diffusion
The plasma membrane, a critical structure in cellular biology, houses an array of transporters, or carrier proteins, interspersed within its lipid bilayer. These proteins play a crucial role in solute transport through facilitated diffusion, a form of passive diffusion that uses transporters to move the molecules across the membrane.
In this process, substrates such as organic compounds and ions interact with a transporter on one side, triggering conformational changes in proteins that enable...
In this process, substrates such as organic compounds and ions interact with a transporter on one side, triggering conformational changes in proteins that enable...
01:24Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers
Polymeric carriers enhance targeted drug delivery by increasing efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. These carriers comprise a biodegradable polymeric backbone integrated with functional elements that enable targeting, improve physicochemical properties, and regulate drug release.Targeting MechanismsThe targeting ability of polymeric carriers is mediated by a homing device, which is a molecular recognition component designed to selectively bind to specific tissues or cells. Monoclonal...