{"title":"Structural and functional tuning of ZIF-8 nanoparticles via zinc salt variation and ligand ratio for enhanced drug delivery","authors":"Derya Mete, Gülşah Şanlı-Mohamed","doi":"10.1007/s11051-025-06424-w","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The clinical application of doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is limited by systemic toxicity, rapid clearance, and the development of multidrug resistance. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), have emerged as promising nanocarriers to overcome these limitations due to their high drug-loading capacity, pH-responsive release profiles, and favorable biocompatibility. Among them, ZIF-8 is especially attractive for its ability to selectively release drugs in acidic tumor microenvironments. However, the physicochemical and biological properties of ZIF-8 are highly sensitive to synthesis parameters, particularly the choice of zinc salt precursor and the Zn<sup>2+</sup>:ligand molar ratio. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of four zinc salts (zinc nitrate, zinc acetate, zinc chloride, and zinc bromide) and three Zn<sup>2+</sup>:2-methylimidazole molar ratios (1:35, 1:70, and 1:200) on the synthesis, drug-loading efficiency, release behavior, and anticancer activity of DOX-loaded ZIF-8 (DOX@ZIF-8) nanoparticles. The resulting nanocarriers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. pH-responsive DOX release was evaluated under physiological (pH 7.4) and acidic (pH 5.0) conditions. Cytotoxicity was assessed in A549 lung cancer cells via the MTT assay. Additionally, in vitro time-lapse live-cell imaging and wound healing assays were conducted to evaluate intracellular drug uptake and cellular responses. Our findings highlight the critical influence of zinc salt selection and ligand ratio on the structure–property–function relationships of ZIF-8, providing valuable insights for the rational design of MOF-based nanocarriers in targeted cancer therapy.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\n<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":653,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Nanoparticle Research","volume":"27 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Nanoparticle Research","FirstCategoryId":"88","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11051-025-06424-w","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The clinical application of doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is limited by systemic toxicity, rapid clearance, and the development of multidrug resistance. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), have emerged as promising nanocarriers to overcome these limitations due to their high drug-loading capacity, pH-responsive release profiles, and favorable biocompatibility. Among them, ZIF-8 is especially attractive for its ability to selectively release drugs in acidic tumor microenvironments. However, the physicochemical and biological properties of ZIF-8 are highly sensitive to synthesis parameters, particularly the choice of zinc salt precursor and the Zn2+:ligand molar ratio. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of four zinc salts (zinc nitrate, zinc acetate, zinc chloride, and zinc bromide) and three Zn2+:2-methylimidazole molar ratios (1:35, 1:70, and 1:200) on the synthesis, drug-loading efficiency, release behavior, and anticancer activity of DOX-loaded ZIF-8 (DOX@ZIF-8) nanoparticles. The resulting nanocarriers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. pH-responsive DOX release was evaluated under physiological (pH 7.4) and acidic (pH 5.0) conditions. Cytotoxicity was assessed in A549 lung cancer cells via the MTT assay. Additionally, in vitro time-lapse live-cell imaging and wound healing assays were conducted to evaluate intracellular drug uptake and cellular responses. Our findings highlight the critical influence of zinc salt selection and ligand ratio on the structure–property–function relationships of ZIF-8, providing valuable insights for the rational design of MOF-based nanocarriers in targeted cancer therapy.
期刊介绍：
The objective of the Journal of Nanoparticle Research is to disseminate knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological phenomena and processes in structures that have at least one lengthscale ranging from molecular to approximately 100 nm (or submicron in some situations), and exhibit improved and novel properties that are a direct result of their small size.
Nanoparticle research is a key component of nanoscience, nanoengineering and nanotechnology.
The focus of the Journal is on the specific concepts, properties, phenomena, and processes related to particles, tubes, layers, macromolecules, clusters and other finite structures of the nanoscale size range. Synthesis, assembly, transport, reactivity, and stability of such structures are considered. Development of in-situ and ex-situ instrumentation for characterization of nanoparticles and their interfaces should be based on new principles for probing properties and phenomena not well understood at the nanometer scale. Modeling and simulation may include atom-based quantum mechanics; molecular dynamics; single-particle, multi-body and continuum based models; fractals; other methods suitable for modeling particle synthesis, assembling and interaction processes. Realization and application of systems, structures and devices with novel functions obtained via precursor nanoparticles is emphasized. Approaches may include gas-, liquid-, solid-, and vacuum-based processes, size reduction, chemical- and bio-self assembly. Contributions include utilization of nanoparticle systems for enhancing a phenomenon or process and particle assembling into hierarchical structures, as well as formulation and the administration of drugs. Synergistic approaches originating from different disciplines and technologies, and interaction between the research providers and users in this field, are encouraged.
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