Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), also known as porous coordination polymers (PCPs), are a unique class of hybrid solids based on metals and organic ligands that have attracted a lot of attention due to their physical/chemical properties. These properties are used in a variety of applications including drug delivery. In this study, two metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), MIL-53(Al) and ZIF-8 were synthesized and used as carriers for Andrographolide (ADG) loading. The drug encapsulation was carried out by high-pressure (100 bar) contact. The high pressure favors the diffusion of the drug into the material and therefore the use of any solvent is avoided. This methodology is not only environment-friendly but also energy/time-saving, giving rise to ADG-MOFs with physical features equivalent to those of materials obtained by common liquid phase encapsulation processes. The synthesized MOFs and the designed drug delivery systems were then characterized through transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry analysis, and Fourier transform infrared. The amount of encapsulated ADG was also calculated using thermogravimetric analysis. The highest encapsulation value for ADG (20 %) was obtained with MIL-53(Al). The dissolution profile of ADG in MIL-53(Al) with PBS (pH = 7.4) was carried out showing that the drug was released up to 96% of its initial load after 75 h.

Andrographolide encapsulation in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a drug delivery system for cancer applications

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