Zinc metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF)

Zinc metal-organic frameworks (Zn-MOFs) are synthetic hybrid materials consisting of zinc nodes coordinated to organic ligands, creating highly porous crystalline networks (Sun et al., 2020, doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2020.213435). They are not biological targets such as receptors or enzymes; instead, they function as advanced drug delivery systems (DDS) designed to transport and protect therapeutic agents (Zheng et al., 2016, doi:10.1021/jacs.6b04061). Zn-MOFs like ZIF-8 are particularly valued for their high loading capacity and pH-responsive properties, which allow for the targeted release of drugs in acidic environments like tumor tissues or intracellular lysosomes (He et al., 2019, doi:10.1016/j.addr.2018.12.001). These carriers can encapsulate a variety of molecules, including chemotherapeutics like Doxorubicin and biologics like Insulin, improving their stability and bioavailability (Lian et al., 2017, doi:10.1021/jacs.7b01450). While zinc is an essential trace element, the safety of Zn-MOFs depends on the toxicity of the organic linkers and the degradation rate of the framework in vivo (Wu and Yang, 2017, doi:10.1002/adma.201606134). Their structural versatility allows for surface modifications with ligands or polymers to enhance biocompatibility and achieve active targeting of specific cell types. Consequently, Zn-MOFs represent a significant area of research in nanomedicine for improving the therapeutic index of toxic or unstable drugs.

Other names

Zn-MOFZinc-based metal-organic frameworkZeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8)Zinc-carboxylate framework

Zn-MOFs act as delivery vehicles by encapsulating drugs within their pores or through surface adsorption. The mechanism typically involves stimulus-triggered release, most commonly pH-responsive degradation where the coordination bonds between zinc and the ligands break in acidic conditions (pH < 6.0), releasing the cargo directly at the site of action (Zheng et al., 2016, doi:10.1021/jacs.6b04061).