Biodegradable Metal–Organic Framework‐Based Microrobots (MOFBOTs)

• Published in: Advanced healthcare materials Vol. 9; no. 20; pp. e2001031 - n/a
• Main Authors: Terzopoulou, Anastasia, Wang, Xiaopu, Chen, Xiang‐Zhong, Palacios‐Corella, Mario, Pujante, Carlos, Herrero‐Martín, Javier, Qin, Xiao‐Hua, Sort, Jordi, deMello, Andrew J., Nelson, Bradley J., Puigmartí‐Luis, Josep, Pané, Salvador
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-10-2020
• Subjects: Biodegradability; biodegradation; Biomedical materials; Cell culture; Controlled release; Degradability; Degradation; Doxorubicin; Drug delivery; Drug Delivery Systems; Gelatin; Humans; Locomotion; Magnetic Fields; Metal-Organic Frameworks; Microrobots; Neoplasms; Robots; zeolitic imidazolate frameworks; biodegradation; zeolitic imidazolate frameworks; drug delivery; metal-organic frameworks; microrobots
• ISSN: 2192-2640; 2192-2659
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001031

Microrobots and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been identified as promising carriers for drug delivery applications. While clinical applications of microrobots are limited by their low drug loading efficiencies and the poor degradability of the materials used for their fabrication, MOFs lack motility and targeted drug delivery capabilities. The combination of these two fields marks the beginning of a new era; MOF‐based small‐scale robots (MOFBOTs) for biomedical applications. Yet, biodegradability is a major hurdle in the field of micro‐ and nanoswimmers including small‐scale robots. Here, a highly integrated MOFBOT that is able to realize magnetic locomotion, drug delivery, and selective degradation in cell cultures is reported for the first time. The MOF used in the investigations does not only allow a superior loading of chemotherapeutic drugs and their controlled release via a pH‐responsive degradation but it also enables the controlled locomotion of enzymatically biodegradable gelatin‐based helical microrobots under magnetic fields. The degradation of the integrated MOFBOT is observed after two weeks, when all its components fully degrade. Additionally, drug delivery studies performed in cancer cell cultures show reduced viability upon delivery of Doxorubicin within short time frames. This MOFBOT system opens new avenues for highly integrated fully biodegradable small‐scale robots.
Highly integrated MOFBOTs are developed for targeted drug delivery. Fe@ZIF‐8, a magnetic MOF composite synthesized via a one‐pot procedure, plays a dual role of drug carrier and motile component of the microrobot. pH‐triggered degradation of the MOF and enzymatic degradation of the gelatin‐based chassis result in an overall degradable system, which opens new avenues for highly integrated fully biodegradable small‐scale robots.