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Nanomaterials
Volume 15
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10.3390/nano15110826
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Optimizing the Size of Zr-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy

by
Zan Cheng
1,
Mei Yu
1,
Yilong Wan
2,
Huandong Xiang
2,
Haoran Wei
2,
Xu Zu
2,
Xin Li
2,
Ruiting Zhang
1,
Fangshu Li
1,
Shanshan Wang
1,* and
Yongxin She
1,*
1
Institute of Quality Standards & Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
2
CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics and National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(11), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15110826
Submission received: 10 April 2025 / Revised: 22 May 2025 / Accepted: 25 May 2025 / Published: 29 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Inorganic Materials and Metal-Organic Frameworks)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have great potential for drug delivery systems due to their tunnel pore size, structural versatility, and high surface area. Among them, UiO-67 have recently attracted substantial attention as functional nanocarriers for effective delivery of small molecule chemical drugs. However, the influence of the size on cellular uptake of UiO-67 remains ambiguous. Here, we use polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the capping agent of UiO-67 to synthesize spherical Zr-based MOFs with various diameters, including 40 nm, 60 nm, and 120 nm. The highest cellular uptake is observed in the case of Zr-based MOFs with a diameter of 40 nm (PU40 MOFs). Moreover, doxorubicin can be loaded into the inner pores of PU40 MOF via π-π and electrostatic interactions (DPU40 MOFs), with a loading capacity of 82 wt%, and gradually released under acidic conditions. In vitro, the resulting DPU40 MOFs can be internalized by cancer cells more effectively, thereby enhancing the delivery of doxorubicin into cancer cells. Ultimately, this results in enhanced antitumor efficacy toward 4T1, Hs 578T, and MCF-7 cells. Our findings indicate that approximately 40 nm may be the optimum diameter for the special Zr-based MOFs to be internalized by cells more effectively, providing potent potential nanocarriers for drug delivery.
Keywords: metal–organic frameworks; UiO-67; drug delivery; cellular internalization; anticancer metal–organic frameworks; UiO-67; drug delivery; cellular internalization; anticancer

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cheng, Z.; Yu, M.; Wan, Y.; Xiang, H.; Wei, H.; Zu, X.; Li, X.; Zhang, R.; Li, F.; Wang, S.; et al. Optimizing the Size of Zr-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy. Nanomaterials 2025, 15, 826. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15110826

AMA Style

Cheng Z, Yu M, Wan Y, Xiang H, Wei H, Zu X, Li X, Zhang R, Li F, Wang S, et al. Optimizing the Size of Zr-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy. Nanomaterials. 2025; 15(11):826. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15110826

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cheng, Zan, Mei Yu, Yilong Wan, Huandong Xiang, Haoran Wei, Xu Zu, Xin Li, Ruiting Zhang, Fangshu Li, Shanshan Wang, and et al. 2025. "Optimizing the Size of Zr-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy" Nanomaterials 15, no. 11: 826. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15110826

APA Style

Cheng, Z., Yu, M., Wan, Y., Xiang, H., Wei, H., Zu, X., Li, X., Zhang, R., Li, F., Wang, S., & She, Y. (2025). Optimizing the Size of Zr-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy. Nanomaterials, 15(11), 826. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15110826

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