Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8), for the first time for ZIFs, exhibits a remarkable capacity for the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), around 660 mg of 5-FU/g of ZIF-8, and presents a pH-triggered controlled drug release property. These prove ZIF-8 to be a valuable candidate for delivery of anticancer agents and reveal its potential applications in the treatment of cancer.

A facile, cost-effective and sensitive colorimetric detection method for Pb(2+) has been developed by using glutathione functionalized gold nanoparticles (GSH-GNPs). The sensitivity and selectivity of detection were investigated in detail. The GSH-GNPs could be induced to aggregate immediately in the presence of Pb(2+), especially after the addition of 1 M NaCl aqueous solution. The Pb(2+) could be detected by colorimetric response of GNPs that could be monitored by a UV-vis spectrophotometer or even naked eyes, and the detection limit could reach 100 nM. The GSH-GNPs bound by Pb(2+) showed excellent selectivity compared to other metal ions (Hg(2+), Mg(2+), Zn(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Cd(2+), Ba(2+), and Cr(3+)), which led to prominent color change. This provided a simple and effective colorimetric sensor (no enzyme or DNA) for on-site and real-time detection of Pb(2+). Most importantly, this probe was also applied to determine the Pb(2+) in the lake samples with low interference and high sensitivity.

A chiral nanoporous metal-organic framework (MOF) with high porosity is obtained based on nontoxic zinc and achiral hexadentate ligand. It shows high drug loading and slow release of the proportion of the loaded drug with a complete delivery time of about one week when used as a material for adsorption and delivery of anticancer 5-fluorouracil.

The polyacrylic acid@zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (PAA@ZIF-8) nanoparticles (NPs) were first fabricated using a facile and simple route. It is worthwhile noting that the as-fabricated PAA@ZIF-8 NPs possessed ultrahigh doxorubicin (DOX) loading capability (1.9 g DOX g(-1) NPs), which were employed as pH-dependent drug delivery vehicles.