One-pot Synthesis of Metal–Organic Frameworks with Encapsulated Target Molecules and Their Applications for Controlled Drug Delivery

TLDR

Controlled delivery of target molecules is essential in many medical and chemical applications, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) offer high porosity, large surface area, and tunable functionality, yet current incorporation methods rely on multistep post‑functionalization. This study introduces a one‑pot method that simultaneously synthesizes MOFs and encapsulates target molecules. The authors develop a single‑step synthesis that integrates MOF crystallization with encapsulation of large drug and dye molecules. The method successfully encapsulates large drugs and dyes homogeneously within ZIF‑8 crystals with tunable loadings, and DOX‑loaded ZIF‑8 demonstrates pH‑responsive release and superior cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells compared to free DOX, indicating broad potential for multifunctional delivery systems.

Abstract

Many medical and chemical applications require target molecules to be delivered in a controlled manner at precise locations. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have high porosity, large surface area, and tunable functionality and are promising carriers for such purposes. Current approaches for incorporating target molecules are based on multistep postfunctionalization. Here, we report a novel approach that combines MOF synthesis and molecule encapsulation in a one-pot process. We demonstrate that large drug and dye molecules can be encapsulated in zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) crystals. The molecules are homogeneously distributed within the crystals, and their loadings can be tuned. We show that ZIF-8 crystals loaded with the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) are efficient drug delivery vehicles in cancer therapy using pH-responsive release. Their efficacy on breast cancer cell lines is higher than that of free DOX. Our one-pot process opens new possibilities to construct multifunctional delivery systems for a wide range of applications.