Low Cytotoxic Metal–Organic Frameworks as Temperature‐Responsive Drug Carriers

Abstract

Abstract Two zinc‐based porous metal–organic frameworks, ZJU‐64 and ZJU‐64‐CH 3 , sharing the same crystal structure, have been synthesized from zinc ions, the biomolecular linker adenine, and carboxylate‐based ligands, resulting in 3D frameworks with 1D channels (approximately 1.6 nm×1.9 nm). The materials ZJU‐64 and ZJU‐64‐CH 3 exhibit low toxicity by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, microscopy images, and cell‐cycle analysis; this indicates their potential applications for human health care. The anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX) is successfully loaded into MOFs by a simple impregnation method and the drug payloads reach approximately 13.45 and 10.63 wt % for ZJU‐64 and ZJU‐64‐CH 3 , respectively. The sustainable drug‐release behavior of MTX from MTX‐loaded ZJU‐64 and ZJU‐64‐CH 3 is detected for several days. The temperature‐responsive deliveries of ZJU‐64 and ZJU‐64‐CH 3 reveal that hyperthermia can control the drug release and open up a new treatment which combines drug therapy and thermal therapy to kill more cancer cells with fewer side effects; this reveals the practical value of ZJU‐64 and ZJU‐64‐CH 3 as “smart” drug carriers with more therapeutic efficacy.