Interlayer reconstruction-induced dimensional leap: 2D Vitabrid to 3D VitaMOF

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Stabilizing chemically labile bioactive molecules is crucial for developing advanced functional materials and therapeutics.
• Existing methods often struggle to maintain the integrity and efficacy of sensitive compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel solvent-directed strategy for controlled dimensional transformation of zinc-ascorbate nanohybrids.
• To investigate the impact of solvent composition on nanohybrid architecture and properties.
• To evaluate the potential of engineered nanohybrids as stabilized bioactive delivery systems.

Main Methods:

• Co-precipitation of zinc-ascorbate nanohybrids using varying ethanol-water ratios.
• Characterization using Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-FTIR) spectroscopy.
• Assessment of surface area, bioactive loading, biocompatibility, and cytotoxicity.

Main Results:

• Controlled synthesis of two distinct zinc-ascorbate architectures: 2D Vitabrid and 3D VitaMOF, by tuning ethanol-water ratios.
• Optimized 3D VitaMOF exhibited significantly enhanced surface area (553.95 ± 34.68 m² g⁻¹) compared to 2D Vitabrid.
• Both nanohybrids demonstrated high biocompatibility and potent cytotoxicity against melanoma and squamous carcinoma cell lines, outperforming free ascorbic acid.

Conclusions:

• Solvent-programmed dimensional reconstruction is an effective strategy for stabilizing labile bioactives.
• Engineered zinc-ascorbate nanohybrids show promise for therapeutic applications due to enhanced stability and targeted cytotoxicity.
• This approach offers a generalizable platform for designing high-performance nanohybrid materials.