Efficient "green" encapsulation of a highly hydrophilic anticancer drug in metal-organic framework nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of drug targeting Vol. 23; no. 7-8; pp. 759 - 767
• Main Authors: Rodriguez-Ruiz, Violeta, Maksimenko, Andrei, Anand, Resmi, Monti, Sandra, Agostoni, Valentina, Couvreur, Patrick, Lampropoulou, Maria, Yannakopoulou, Konstantina, Gref, Ruxandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 14-09-2015
• Subjects: "green" synthesis; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic - administration & dosage; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic - chemistry; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic - pharmacology; Cell Line, Tumor; Crystallization; Deoxycytidine - administration & dosage; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Deoxycytidine - chemistry; Deoxycytidine - pharmacology; Drug Liberation; Drug Stability; Drug Storage; Engineering Sciences; Ferric Compounds - chemistry; Gemcitabin; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Life Sciences; Metal Nanoparticles; metal-organic frameworks; Micro and nanotechnologies; Microelectronics; MOF; nanoparticle; nucleoside analog; Organometallic Compounds - chemistry; Pancreatic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Pharmaceutical sciences; Phosphates - chemistry; Polymers - chemistry; Prodrugs - administration & dosage; Prodrugs - chemistry; prostate cancer; Gemcitabin; prostate cancer; MOF; nanoparticle; metal–organic frameworks; nucleoside analog; “green” synthesis
• ISSN: 1061-186X; 1029-2330
• DOI: 10.3109/1061186X.2015.1073294

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are coordination polymers of interest for biomedical applications. Of particular importance, nanoparticles made of iron(III) trimesate (MIL-100, MIL standing for Material Institut Lavoisier) (nanoMOFs) can be conveniently synthesised under mild and green conditions. They were shown to be biodegradable, biocompatible and efficient to encapsulate a variety of active molecules. We have addressed here the challenges to encapsulate a highly hydrophilic anticancer prodrug, phosphated gemcitabin (Gem-MP) known for its instability and inability to bypass cell membranes. MIL-100 nanoMOFs acted as efficient "nanosponges", soaking Gem-MP from its aqueous solution with almost perfect efficiency (>98%). Maximal loadings reached ∼30 wt% reflecting the strong interaction between the drug and the iron trimesate matrices. Neither degradation nor loss of crystalline structure was observed after the loading process. Storage of the loaded nanoMOFs in water did not result in drug release over three days. However, Gem-MP was released in media containing phosphates, as a consequence to particle degradation. Drug-loaded nanoMOFs were effective against pancreatic PANC-1 cells, in contrast to free drug and empty nanoMOFs. However, an efflux phenomenon could contribute to reduce the efficacy of the nanocarriers. Size optimization and surface modification of the nanoMOFs are expected to further improve these findings.