Encapsulation and Release Mechanisms in Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles

The interplay of guest encapsulation and release mechanisms in nanoscale metal–organic vehicles and its effect on the drug‐delivery kinetics of these materials were investigated through a new multidisciplinary approach. Two rationally‐designed molecular guests were synthesized, which consist of a red‐fluorescent benzophenoxazine dye covalently tethered to a coordinating catechol group and a protected, non‐coordinating catechol moiety. This allowed loading of the guests into compositionally and structurally equivalent coordination polymer particles through distinct encapsulation mechanisms: coordination and mechanical entrapment. The two types of particles delivered their fluorescent cargo with remarkably different kinetic profiles, which could be satisfactorily modeled considering degradation‐ and diffusion‐controlled release processes. This demonstrates that careful selection of the method of guest incorporation into coordination polymer nanoparticles allows selective tuning of the rate of drug delivery from these materials and, therefore, of the time window of action of the encapsulated therapeutic agents.     

纳米金属有机骨架材料及其载药应用

金属有机骨架材料(MOFs)是指由含氮、氧等多齿有机配体与金属离子通过自组装形成的配位聚合物。由于金属有机骨架材料的大比表面积和高孔隙率等优点使其在药物负载领域有广泛应用。近年来,纳米金属有机骨架材料(NMOFs)因既具有MOFs的特点,又具有纳米材料独特的理化性能,使其兼具药物负载量高、目标靶向性好、表面易改性和生物相容性优良等特点,已成为一种优异的纳米级载药系统。本文介绍了NMOFs的常用制备方法,主要包括溶剂热法、反相微乳液法与超声波法,并对其优缺点进行了讨论;详细阐述了载药NMOFs的特性及其不同类型对于各类药物的负载能力;指出今后其主要的研究方向是改善生物相容性、实现更有效的表面功能化、扩展生物NMOFs及其负载药物的种类,使其应用到更多疾病的治疗上。     

Carboxyl Group (CO2H) Functionalized Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles as Efficient Platforms for Drug Delivery

Functionalization of nanoparticles can significantly influence their properties and potential applications. Although researchers can now functionalize metal, metal oxide, and organic polymer nanoparticles with a high degree of precision, controlled surface functionalization of nanoscale coordination polymer particles (CPPs) has remained a significant challenge. The lack of methodology is perhaps one of the greatest roadblocks to the advancement of CPPs into high added‐value drug delivery applications. Here, we report having achieved this goal through a stepwise formation and functionalization protocol. We fabricated robust nanoparticles with enhanced thermal and colloidal stabilities by incorporation of carboxyl groups and these surface carboxyl groups could be subsequently functionalized through well‐known peptide coupling reactions. The set of chemistries that we employed as proof‐of‐concept enabled a plethora of new functional improvements for the application of CPPs as drug delivery carriers, including enhanced colloidal stabilities and the incorporation of additional functional groups such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or fluorescent dyes that enabled tracking of their cellular uptake. Finally, we ascertained the cytotoxicity of the new CPP nanoparticles loaded with camptothecin to human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF‐7). Efflux measurements show that the encapsulation of camptothecin enhances the potency of the drug 6.5‐fold and increases the drug retention within the cell.     

Effect of the Metal within Regioisomeric Paddle-Wheel-Type Metal–Organic Frameworks

The effect of metal on the degree of flexibility upon evacuation of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has been revealed with positional control of the organic functionalities. Although Co-, Cu-, and Zn-based DMOFs (DMOF = DABCO MOF, DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) with ortho-ligands (2,3-NH₂Cl) have frameworks that are inflexible upon evacuation, MOFs with para-ligands (2,5-NH₂Cl) showed different N₂ uptake amounts after evacuation by metal exchange. Considering that the structural analyses were not fully sufficiently different to explain the drastic changes in N₂ adsorption after evacuation, quantum chemical simulation was explored. A new index (η) was defined to quantify the regularity around the metal based on differences in the oxygen-metal-oxygen angles. Within 2,5-NH₂Cl, the η value becomes larger as the metal are varied from Co to Zn. A large η value means that the structures around the metal center are less ordered. These results can be used to explain flexibility changes upon evacuation by altering the metal cation in this regioisomeric system.     

Engineering Metal–Organic Framework Catalysts for C−C and C−X Coupling Reactions: Advances in Reticular Approaches from 2014–2018

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystalline porous materials that have been actively used for several industrial and synthetic applications. MOFs are spatially and geometrically extrapolated coordination polymers with intriguing properties such as tunable porosity and dimensionality. In terms of their catalytic efficiency, MOFs combine the easy recoverability of heterogeneous catalysts with the increased selectivity of biological catalysts. It is therefore not surprising that a lot of work on optimizing MOF catalysts for organic transformations has been carried out over the past decade. In this review, recent developments in MOF catalysis are summarized, with special attention being paid to C−C, C−N, and C−O coupling reactions. The influence of pore size, pore environment, and load on catalytic activity is described. Post-synthetic stabilization techniques and host–guest interactions in caged MOF scaffolds are detailed. Mechanistic aspects pertaining to the use of MOFs in asymmetric heterogeneous catalysis are highlighted and categorized.     

Lithium–Lanthanide Bimetallic Metal–Organic Frameworks towards Negative Electrode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Novel lithium–lanthanide (Ln: cerium and praseodymium) bimetallic coordination polymers with formulas C₁₀H₂LnLiO₈ (Ln: Ce (CeLipma) and Pr (PrLipma)) and C₁₀H₃CeO₈ (Cepma) were prepared through a simple hydrothermal method. The three compounds were characterized by means of FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results of structural refinement show that they belong to triclinic symmetry and P space group with cerium (or praseodymium) and lithium cations, forming coordination bonds to oxygen atoms from different pyromellitic acid molecules, and leading to the construction of 3D structures. It is interesting to note that the frameworks exclude any coordination water and lattice water. As an electrode material for lithium-ion batteries, CeLipma exhibits a maximum capacity of 800.5 mAh g⁻¹ and a retention of 91.4 % after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹. The favorable electrochemical properties of the lanthanide coordination polymers show potential application prospects in the field of electrode materials.     

High-Z Metal–Organic Frameworks for X-ray Radiation-Based Cancer Theranostics

X-ray radiation is commonly employed in clinical practice for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Over the past decade, developments in nanotechnology have led to the use of high-Z elements as the basis for innovative new treatment platforms that enhance the clinical efficacy of X-ray radiation. Nanoscale metal–frameworks (nMOFs) are coordination networks containing organic ligands that have attracted attention as therapeutic platforms in oncology and other areas of medicine. In cancer therapy, X-ray activated, high-Z nMOFs have demonstrated potential as radiosensitizers that increase local radiation dose deposition and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This minireview summarizes current research on high-Z nMOFs in cancer theranostics and discusses factors that may influence future clinical application.     

Coordination Polymers Derived from Non‐Steroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drugs for Cell Imaging and Drug Delivery

A new series of Mn^II coordination polymers, namely, [{Mn(L)(H₂O)₂} ? 2 Nap]_∞ ( CP1 ), [{Mn(L)(Ibu)₂(H₂O)₂}]_∞ ( CP2 ), [{Mn(L)(Flr)₂(H₂O)₂}]_∞ ( CP3 ), [{Mn(L)(Ind)₂(H₂O)₂} ? H₂O]_∞ ( CP4 ), [{Mn₂(L)₂(μ‐Flu)₄(H₂O)} ? L]_∞ ( CP5 ), [{Mn₂(L)₂(μ‐Tol)₄(H₂O)₂}]_∞ ( CP6) and [{Mn₂(L)₂(μ‐Mef)₄(H₂O)₂}]_∞ ( CP7 ) (Nap=naproxen, Ibu=ibuprofen, Flr=flurbiprofen, Ind=indometacin, Flu=flufenamic acid, Tol=tolfenamic acid and Mef=mefenamic acid) derived from various non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the organic linker 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethylene (L) have been synthesized with the aim of being used for cell imaging and drug delivery. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SXRD) studies revealed that the NSAID molecules were part of the coordination polymeric network either through coordination to the metal center (in the majority of the cases) or through hydrogen bonding. Remarkably, all the Mn^II coordination polymers were found to be soluble in DMSO, thereby making them particularly suitable for the desired biological applications. Two of the coordination polymers (namely, CP1 and CP3 ) reported herein, were found to be photoluminescent both in the solid as well as in the solution state. Subsequent experiments (namely, MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide), and PGE₂ (prostaglandin E₂) assays) established their biocompatibility and anti‐inflammatory response. In vitro studies by using a macrophage cell line (i.e., RAW 264.7) revealed that both CP1 and CP3 were excellent cell imaging agents. Finally, biodegradability studies under simulated physiological conditions in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.6 showed that slow and sustained release of the corresponding NSAID was indeed possible from both CP1 and CP3 .     

113Cd Solid‐State NMR for Probing the Coordination Sphere in Metal–Organic Frameworks

Spectroscopic techniques are a powerful tool for structure determination, especially if single‐crystal material is unavailable. ¹¹³Cd solid‐state NMR is easy to measure and is a highly sensitive probe because the coordination number, the nature of coordinating groups, and the geometry around the metal ion is reflected by the isotropic chemical shift and the chemical‐shift anisotropy. Here, a detailed investigation of a series of 27 cadmium coordination polymers by ¹¹³Cd solid‐state NMR is reported. The results obtained demonstrate that ¹¹³Cd NMR is a very sensitive tool to characterize the cadmium environment, also in non‐single‐crystal materials. Furthermore, this method allows the observation of guest‐induced phase transitions supporting understanding of the structural flexibility of coordination frameworks.     

A pH-responsive cleavage route based on a metal-organic coordination bond

The physical or chemical event that generally causes stimuli responses is limited to the formation or destruction of secondary forces, such as hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic effects, electrostatic interactions, and simple reactions. Here, pH-responsive behavior of metal-organic coordination bonding, which is intrinsic to natural systems (e.g., transferrin recycling in cells), is becoming a strong candidate for a new stimulus-responsive route. We have designed a simple pH-responsive release system by integrating a metal ion and ligand or self-assembling these species with biodegradable host molecules to form nanoparticles with "metal-ligand" or "host-metal-ligand" architectures. The cleavage of either or both the "metal-ligand" or the "host-metal" coordination bond in response to pH variations causes significant damage to the nanoparticles and the subsequent release of ligand molecules under designated pH conditions.     

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 as pH-Sensitive Nanocarrier for “Arsenic Trioxide” Drug Delivery

Previous results revealed that arsenic trioxide might be used as promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of some solid tumours as atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumours (ATRT). However, in order to become an approved drug for solid tumour treatment, the active formulation has to get more efficient and feasible—but at the same time less toxic. One of the possibilities to achieve this dichotomy is to use nanomedicine tools. Herein, we report on the Zn-based metal–organic framework ZIF-8 (Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8) which turned out to be a promising candidate for the delivery of As^III species. It conjointly features a high drug loading capacity and a prominent pH-triggered release behaviour. As^III-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles coated and non-coated with polyethylene glycol were studied by XRPD, IR, Raman, TGA, TEM, EDX, CHN-elemental analysis, sorption analysis and ICP-OES, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro.     

Single Crystal‐to‐Single Crystal Site‐Selective Postsynthetic Metal Exchange in a Zn–MOF Based on Semi‐Rigid Tricarboxylic Acid and Access to Bimetallic MOFs

The metal ions in a neutral Zn–MOF constructed from tritopic triacid H₃L with inherent concave features, rigid core, and peripheral flexibility are found to exist in two distinct SBUs, that is, 0D and 1D. This has allowed site‐selective postsynthetic metal exchange (PSME) to be investigated and reactivities of the metal ions in two different environments in coordination polymers to be contrasted for the first time. Site‐selective transmetalation of Zn ions in the discrete environment is shown to occur in a single crystal‐to‐single crystal (SCSC) fashion, with metal ions such as Fe³⁺, Ru³⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, etc., whereas those that are part of 1D SBU sustain structural integrity, leading to novel bimetallic MOFs, which are inaccessible by conventional approaches. To the best of our knowledge, site‐selective postsynthetic exchange of an intraframework metal ion in a MOF that contains metal ions in discrete as well as polymeric SBUs is heretofore unprecedented.