A drug-loaded nanoscale metal–organic framework with a tumor targeting agent for highly effective hepatoma therapy

Abstract

Drug delivery systems with targeting agents for precise drug release in cancer therapy are very significant and important. Herein, we report the rational design and synthesis of a DOX (doxorubicin) loaded UiO-68-type of nanoscale metal-organic framework (NMOF) with a tumor targeting agent (folic acid, FA), DOX@UiO-68-FA (3), as a multifunctional drug delivery system for hepatoma (Hep G2) therapy via tail-vein injection. Compared to free DOX, FA-unloaded DOX@Mi-UiO-68 (2), 3 exhibits a much higher antitumor efficacy, which was confirmed by cell imaging, standard 3-(4,5-dimethylthiahiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) proliferation and in vivo experiments.

Recent advances in metallopolymer-based drug delivery systems

“…Importantly, nanoscale MOFs have much higher anticancer efficacy in in vivo studies. 180 The zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) has been used as biocompatible MOFs for co-delivery of an anticancer drug (DOX) and a P-glycoprotein inhibitor of verapamil hydrochloride (VER) to overcome MDR and deliver an active targeting drug. The resulting design was further modied by PEG-FA to obtain better stability and active targeting ability.…”

Metal‐Organic Framework Mediated Multifunctional Nanoplatforms for Cancer Therapy

“…This multifunctional nanomedicine was used for efficient hepatoma therapy by intravenous injection. They further confirmed that the as‐synthesized nanoscale MOFs perform a much higher anticancer efficacy in in vivo studies . MOFs could be also coated by exosomes for the efficient loading and sealing of drugs.…”

Metal Organic Frameworks as Drug Targeting Delivery Vehicles in the Treatment of Cancer

“…For example, Jihye and coworkers used folic acid to modify TCPP@PCN-224 which improved the efficacy of the original nano drug delivery system [56]. Same as above, folic acid was modified by Li et al on a metal organic framework to get FA/DOX@UiO-68 [57]. They injected different substances into the tail vein of liver cancer mice.…”