Precise placement of multiple functional groups in a highly ordered metal-organic framework (MOF) platform allows the tailoring of the pore environment, which is required for advanced applications. To realize this, we present a comprehensive study on the linker installation method, in which a stable MOF with coordinatively unsaturated Zr6 clusters was employed and linkers bearing different functional groups were postsynthetically installed. A Zr-MOF with inherent missing linker sites, namely, PCN-700, was initially constructed under kinetic control. Twelve linkers with different substituents were then designed to study their effect on MOF formation kinetics and therefore resulting MOF structures. Guided by the geometrical analysis, linkers with different lengths were installed into a parent PCN-700, giving rise to 11 new MOFs and each bearing up to three different functional groups in predefined positions. Systematic variation of the pore volume and decoration of pore environment were realized by linker installation, which resulted in synergistic effects including an enhancement of H2 adsorption capacities of up to 57%. In addition, a size-selective catalytic system for aerobic alcohol oxidation reaction is built in PCN-700 through linker installation, which shows high activity and tunable size selectivity. Altogether, these results exemplify the capability of the linker installation method in the pore environment engineering of stable MOFs with multiple functional groups, giving an unparalleled level of control.

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The physicochemical properties of a set of 21 different gold nanoparticles (spherical and rod-shaped nanoparticles (NPs) of different diameters with three different surface coatings) were studied. Protein corona formation, in vitro uptake, effect on cell viability and proliferation, and in vivo biodistribution of these NPs were determined. The relation of the results of the different NPs was analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis, which will tell which NPs have the most similar physicochemical properties and biological effects, without having to specify individual physicochemical parameters. The results show that the physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are mainly accounted for by their hydrodynamic diameter and their zeta-potential. The formation of the protein corona is determined by the pH-dependence of their zeta-potential. While several reports found that in vitro uptake and in vivo biodistribution of NPs are correlated to individual physicochemical parameters, e. g., size, shape, or surface chemistry, such direct dependence in the investigated multidimensional set of NPs was not found in our study. This most likely is due to entanglement of the different parameters, which complicates the prediction of the biological effect of NPs in case multiple physicochemical properties are simultaneously varied. The in vitro uptake and in vivo biodistribution of NPs seem to be not directly driven by the protein corona, but the physicochemical properties determine as well the corona as they influence in vitro/ in vivo behaviors, and thus the effect of the protein corona would be rather indirect.

Receptor mediated transcytosis (RMT) is a common mechanism used for nanotherapeutics to traverse the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, the transcytosis of ligand modified nanoparticles via RMT is likely to be trapped within brain capillary endothelial cells due to the high binding affinity of ligand with receptors, which greatly reduces the amount of nanoparticles across BBB. Here, P-aminophenyl-α-D-mannopyranoside (MAN) decorated doxorubicin-loaded dendrigraft poly-l-lysine with acid-cleavable transferrin (Tf ) coating outside (DD-MCT) is proposed. The DD-MCT is engineered to specifically recognize the Tf receptor (TfR) on the luminal side of BBB endothelium. Then the DD-MCT undergoes an acid-responsive cleavage of Tf, leading to the separation of MAN-decorated DGL-DOX (DD-M) from the Tf-TfR complex in endo/lysosomes. The detached DD-M is more prone to escape from endo/lysosomes and can further be exocytosed into brain parenchyma via the mediation of glucose transporter located on the abluminal endothelial membrane. Moreover, the DD-M in brain parenchyma can target glioma cells. Significantly, the DD-MCT enters into brain parenchyma in greater amounts, resulting in enhanced accumulation at glioma site and thus improved antiglioma therapeutic outcome. This strategy pioneers a new path for reducing the trapping of nanotherapeutics within BBB endothelium but increasing their transcytosis into brain parenchyma.