Thermo- and pH-responsive MOF-303 mediated P127 and Gelatin coating for combination drug release and liver cancer therapy
Journal
Materials Today Chemistry
Series/Report No.
Materials Today Chemistry
Journal Volume
44
Pages
102548
ISSN
2468-5194
Date Issued
2025-03-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly MOF-303, show promise for liver cancer therapy due to their high surface areas and tunable pore sizes. This study compared hydrothermal and microwave-assisted syntheses of MOF-303 to optimize its properties for drug delivery. Hydrothermal synthesis yielded rectangular structures (∼200 nm) with a surface area of 953.37 m2g-1, while microwave synthesis produced cubic structures (∼100 nm) with a BET surface area of 1370.90 m2g-1. Pluronic 127 (P127) was functionalized, and gelatin-protein (Gel) induced thermal responsive for drug release. Small-angle X-ray scattering confirmed superior thermal stability for hydrothermally synthesized MOF-303, with a slight decrease in the radius of gyration (Rg) from 43.57 nm at 25 °C to 42.23 nm at 42 °C, while microwave method is sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Drug release studies indicated a diffusion-controlled mechanism, with excellent fit to the Korsmeyer–Peppas model (r2 = 0.96–0.97). In vivo, subcutaneous injection of Gel@H-MOF-303-127 with DOX significantly reduced tumor size (∼212 mm3) by day 35, maintaining efficacy through day 38 (p ≤ 0.01). DOX-conjugated MOF-303 treatments exhibited no noticeable inflammation detected in major organs. Therefore, the thermo- and pH-responsive Gel@P127-mediated MOF-303 demonstrated significant potential for targeted liver cancer therapy, paving the way for future clinical trials.
SDGs
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Type
journal article