pH-responsive hollow core zeolitic-imidazolate framework-8 as an effective drug carrier of 5-fluorouracil

• Published in: Materials today chemistry Vol. 27; p. 101277
• Main Authors: Anggraini, S.A., Prasetija, K.A., Yuliana, M., Wijaya, C.J., Bundjaja, V., Angkawijaya, A.E., Jiang, Y.-F., Putro, J.N., Hartono, S.B., Ayucitra, A., Santoso, S.P., Ismadji, S., Soetaredjo, F.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Cancer; Drug delivery system; Hollow ZIF-8; Stimuli-responsive; ZIF-8; Stimuli-responsive; ZIF-8; Hollow ZIF-8; Drug delivery system; Cancer
• ISSN: 2468-5194; 2468-5194
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2022.101277

To enhance the porosity and accessibility, a novel drug carrier, the hollow core zeolitic-imidazolate framework-8 (HZIF-8), is designed using polystyrene as a hard template to sequentially load and release 5-fluorouracil (FU). HZIF-8 is signified by a large surface area and pore volume, reaching 1727.1 m2/g and 0.99 cm3/g, respectively. The obtained HZIF-8 exhibits rhombic dodecahedron morphology with a uniform particle size of 450 nm. The integrated hollow core is observed at ca. 180 nm. Evaluation of the FU encapsulation behavior in HZIF-8 nanospheres is demonstrated via the adsorption kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies. The maximum FU uptake is monitored at 40 °C with the loading capacity of 161.9 mg/g. This study suggests that the FU uptake follows the pseudo-second-order law and multilayer mechanism. The governing mechanism is chemical binding in its first layer and physical interaction in the upper layers. The release study of FU from FU-loaded HZIF-8 shows that the cumulative release at pH 5.5 (92.03%) is four times higher than that at pH 7.4 (23.31%), indicating a stimulus-responsive release mechanism where pH is required as an internal stimulus factor. [Display omitted] •A new drug carrier, hollow zeolitic-imidazolate framework-8 (HZIF-8), has been fabricated.•HZIF-8 has two-fold higher loading capacity than the single ZIF-8.•HZIF-8 is characterized with structured mesopores and integrated hollow core.•The maximum uptake capacity of fluorouracil by HZIF-8 reaches 161.9 mg/g at 40 °C.•The release study exhibits the stimuli (pH)-responsive characteristics of HZIF-8.