Toxicological Impact and in Vivo Tracing of Rhodamine Functionalised ZIF-8 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are extensively used for a wide range of applications due to their exceptionally high surface area. MOF particles are conventionally in micron size, but the nanosized MOFs show good transportation/mobility due to their small size, and when combined with the high surface area of MOFs, it makes MOF nanoparticles an ideal candidate to study for environmental remediation. Therefore, it is important to study the ecotoxicological impact of these MOFs. In this study, we developed rhodamine labelled nanoparticles of zinc imidazolate metal organic framework (ZIF-8 MOFs) as a means of in vivo tracing the MOF translocation in C. elegans. Rhodamine B isothiocyanate functionalized ZIF-8 MOFs nanoparticles (RBITC@ZIF-8 MOF nanoparticles; size 44 ± 7 nm) were fed to the worms naturally within a concentration range of 0.16–16.4 μg mg−1. Fluorescence was detected in the pharyngeal and gut lumen regions of the worms after 4 h of treatment, for exposure concentrations >0.163 μg mg−1. A higher intensity of fluorescence was observed at the end of 24 h for all exposure concentrations. Worms treated with RBITC@ZIF-8 MOF concentrations of ≥1.63 μg mg−1 for 24 h showed a bright stable fluorescence signal at the tail region. The uptake of RBITC@ZIF-8 MOF for an exposure concentration of 0.163, 1.63, and 8.2 μg mg−1 was found to be 52.1, 11.4 and 28.6%, respectively. Through this study, we showed that RBITC@ZIF-8 MOFs can be exposed to C. elegans and imaged at low concentrations of ∼0.16 μg mg−1.

In Situ Nanoarchitectonics of a MOF Hydrogel: A Self-Adhesive and pH-Responsive Smart Platform for Phototherapeutic Delivery

“…This release pattern determines the importance of in situ grown nZIF-8 in the IPN hydrogel (ZPSH) besides providing mechanical strength. The sustained release achieved from the RBZPSH is also attributed to the π–π interactions between the imidazole ring of the nZIF-8 structure and the phenyl rings of RB embedded in the IPN of PSH. , Moreover, the ionic interactions between the halogen atoms (chlorine and iodine) of the RB with those of zinc in nZIF-8 also contributed to the sustained release pattern (Figure S12). This evidence provided deeper insights into the molecular interactions of RB with ZPSH.…”

Electrochemical and Biocatalytic Signal‐Controlled Payload Release from a Metal–Organic Framework

“…Rhodamine-B isothiocyanate was selected as a payload sample [26,27] since as a fluorogenic dye it is easily detectable in solution through fluorescence spectroscopy and with its ≈10 Å diameter, it also meets the size requirements to be incorporated into the MOF pores. It should be noted that the fluorescence of rhodamine is not pH dependent, thus allowing to follow the release process in situ using a fluorescent confocal microscope.…”