Exploring bioMOF-on-MOF hybrid nanostructure for controlled drug release: characterization, kinetic modeling, and in vitro evaluation

Abstract

In recent years, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted significant attention as versatile materials for drug delivery systems due to their customizable structural properties. Building on this trend, we report the successful development of a bioMOF-on-MOF hybrid nanostructure, denoted as CuGA/CUR@ZIF-8 (CGCZ), as a promising controlled drug delivery platform synthesized via a straightforward sonochemical synthesis approach. Based on advanced physicochemical analyses, CGCZ exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 160 nm and a polydispersity index below 0.2, indicating its suitability for drug delivery applications. Notably, CGCZ demonstrated pH-responsive drug release with superior control compared to its precursor materials, following the Higuchi model at pH 7.4 and 6.8, and the Korsmeyer–Peppas model at pH 5.5. In vitro cytotoxicity assays revealed that CGCZ exhibited enhanced selective cytotoxicity toward MCF-7 cancer cells while maintaining high biocompatibility with L929 normal cells. These results suggest that CGCZ is a promising candidate for controlled drug delivery in cancer therapy, highlighting the potential of bioMOF-on-MOF hybrid systems for biomedical applications.