Covalent organic framework (COF) materials as drug delivery systems have great potential, given these materials ability for high drug loading, targeted drug delivery, and controlled release. COFs tunable porosity (size and shape) and high surface areas, allow for more controlled release and high loading capacities. The tunability of different skeletal functionalities allows for better control of electrostatic interactions between COF and the drug, which can change the loading and overall release kinetics.<br/><br/>Synthesis of COFs can be challenging, and the incorporation of drug molecules can further complicate this process. COFs often require harsh synthesis conditions (high temperatures, strong acids, and long reaction times) that can be unsuitable for drug stability. Additionally, COF crystallinity can be challenging, and the addition of drugs could inhibit the crystallinity process by inducing disorder during the polymerization. Therefore most reported COF drug delivery systems involve post encapsulation of drugs after the COF is synthesized. However, this can often lead to low drug loading capacity compared to one-pot loading. There are many advantages of using a gel/aerogel for drug delivery rather than an insoluble COF powder. The macroscopic pores of an aerogel can offer higher drug loading potential and more control of drug release and adsorption<br/><br/>In this work, the novel synthesis of drug COF aerogels using one-pot synthesis approach to yield crystalline gels in the matter of minutes is reported. Interestingly, these drugs are observed to have a measurable role in speeding up the crystallization and gelling process of COF gels/aerogels. Novelty of this work overcomes both synthesis challenges of COF aerogels materials and COF based drug delivery system by 1). reporting the first COF aerogel synthesized using mild synthesis conditions within minutes 2). reporting the first pure COF drug aerogel 3). Reporting COF drug material produced using one-pot loading technique.

One-pot synthesis of drug loaded covalent organic framework aerogels

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