Search Results (360)

A multifunctional diagnosis and treatment carrier, ZIF-8@CDs, based on carbon quantum dots (CDs) and the zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) metal–organic framework which serves as a core structure for constructing the responsive delivery platform, is developed in this paper. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and Survivin oligo (siRNA) are loaded to form a ZIF-8@CDs/DOX@siRNA dual loading platform. CDs of 5–10 nm are synthesized by the solvent method and combined with ZIF-8. Electron microscopy shows that the composites are nearly spherical particles of approximately 200 nm, and the surface potential decreases from +36 mV before loading CDs to +25.7 mV after loading. The composite system shows unique advantages: (1) It has Fenton-like catalytic activity, catalyzes H₂O₂ to generate hydroxyl radicals, and consumes glutathione in the tumor microenvironment. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ZIF-8@CDs group is significantly higher than that in the control group. (2) To achieve visual diagnosis and treatment, its fluorescence intensity is superior to that of the traditional Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled vector; (3) It has a high loading capacity, with the loading amount of small nucleic acids reaching 36.25 μg/mg, and the uptake rate of siRNA by liver cancer cells is relatively ideal. The ZIF-8@CDs/DOX@siRNA dual-loading system is further constructed. Flow cytometry shows that the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells induced by the ZIF-8@CDs/DOX@siRNA dual-loading system is 49%, which is significantly higher than that of the single-loading system (ZIF-8@CDs/DOX: 34.3%, ZIF-8@CDs@siRNA: 24.2%) and the blank vector (ZIF-8@CDs: 12.6%). The platform provides a new strategy for the integration of tumor diagnosis and treatment through the multi-mechanism synergy of chemical kinetic therapy, gene silencing and chemotherapy. Full article

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) typically exist in the form of powders or dispersed crystals, which limits their direct application in practical engineering scenarios that require monolithic structures and processability. To address this issue, the present study successfully anchored MOF (zeolitic imidazolate framework-8, ZIF-8) nanocrystals within a porous silicon carbide (p-SiC) substrate via a facile in situ growth strategy, achieving both stable macroscopic loading and intimate microscopic interfacial bonding. The resulting ZIF-8/p-SiC composite exhibits a hierarchical porous structure, with a specific surface area approximately 183 times higher than that of the raw p-SiC, alongside a substantially enhanced CO₂ adsorption capacity. By utilizing a low-cost p-SiC support and mild ZIF-8 synthesis conditions, this work demonstrates excellent reproducibility and scalability, providing a facile and effective pathway for fabricating MOF/porous media composite systems that possess both superior mechanical properties and tailored pore structures. Additionally, the developed MOF/p-SiC composites can serve as controllable rock-analog porous media, offering new perspectives for investigating MOF-rock interfacial interactions and CO₂ geological sequestration mechanisms, thereby establishing an organic link between fundamental materials science and geological engineering applications. Full article

Zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs)-derived carbon materials have garnered widespread attention as peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activators in removing antibiotics because of their excellent catalytic performance. However, most carbon materials derived from ZIFs exhibit limited efficacy in treating high-concentration (>10 ppm) antibiotic wastewater, and their synthesis methods are environmentally unfriendly. Herein, we develop a simple and environmentally friendly preparation method to synthesize a new type of nitrogen-doped carbon-supported carbon nanotubes coated with cobalt nanoparticle (Co-CNTs@NC) composites via high-temperature calcination of cobalt–zinc bimetallic ZIFs. The material characterization results confirm the successful preparation of Co-CNTs@NC composites featuring a high specific surface area (512.13 m²/g) and a Co content of 5.38 wt%. Across an initial pH range of 3.24–9.00, the Co-CNTs@NC/PMS catalytic system achieved over 84.17% degradation of 20 mg/L tetracycline hydrochloride within 90 min, demonstrating its favorable pH tolerance. The singlet oxygen-dominated degradation mechanism was confirmed by quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance characterization. This work can provide technical guidance and reference significance for the preparation of metal–carbon materials derived from ZIFs with excellent efficiency of removal of high-concentration antibiotics. Full article

Photocatalysis driven by the visible light of solar energy has received considerable attention in the field of environmental remediation and clean energy production. In this work, monomeric sulfonated palladium phthalocyanine (PdPcS) was encapsulated in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) crystals (denoted PdPcS@ZIF-8) through electrostatic interaction in the ammonia system, while their photocatalytic activity was well-maintained together with the structural regularity of ZIF-8 crystals. For comparison, a PdPcS/ZIF-8 sample was obtained from the traditional impregnation method. The ¹³C NMR and UV-DRS spectra confirmed the difference between PdPcS@ZIF-8 and PdPcS/ZIF-8 in terms of the chemical environment effect for PdPcS. Under visible light, the optimal PdPcS@ZIF-8 catalyst achieved complete degradation of 0.1 mM bisphenol A in 120 min. It also exhibited excellent stability, retaining 81.5% activity after four cycles, far outperforming the impregnated sample (32.5%) due to effective encapsulation preventing PdPcS leaching. This versatile one-step synthetic strategy is expected to be useful for designing novel macromolecules@MOF composite materials. Full article

A cobalt-containing zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) was carbonized by different routes to composite materials (cZIFs) composed of metallic Co, Co₃O₄, and N-doped carbonaceous phase. The effect of the carbonization procedure on the water pollutant removal properties of cZIFs was studied. Higher temperature and prolonged thermal treatment resulted in more uniform particle size distribution (as determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis, NTA) and surface charge lowering (as determined by zeta potential measurements). Surface-governed environmental applications of prepared cZIFs were tested using physical (adsorption) and electrochemical methods for dye degradation. Targeted dyes were methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO), chosen as model compounds to establish the specificity of selected remediation procedures. Electrodegradation was initiated via an intermediate reactive oxygen species formed during oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on cZIFs serving as electrocatalysts. The adsorption test showed relatively uniform adsorption sites at the surface of cZIFs, reaching a removal of over 70 mg/g for both dyes while governed by pseudo-first-order kinetics favored by higher mesoporosity. In the electro-assisted degradation process, cZIF samples demonstrated impressive efficiency, achieving almost complete degradation of MB and MO within 4.5 h. Detailed analysis of energy consumption in the degradation process enabled the calculation of the current conversion efficiency index and the amount of charge associated with O₂^•−/^•OH generation, normalized by the quantity of removed dye, for tested materials. Here, the proposed method will assist similar research studies on the removal of organic water pollutants to discriminate among electrode materials and procedures based on energy efficiency. Full article

Background: Frostbite injury creates an ischemic, hypoxic, and acidic microenvironment that often triggers severe oxidative stress and inflammation. Current therapeutic approaches are limited by low drug delivery efficiency and an inability to adequately regulate multiple pathological pathways. Although oxyresveratrol (OR) exhibits excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, its application is hampered by poor aqueous solubility and low stability. Methods: We constructed Oxyresveratrol@Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 nanoparticles (OR@ZIF-8) and further embedded them in a sodium hyaluronate (HA) matrix to form an OR@ZIF-8@HA composite hydrogel. The physicochemical properties and pH-responsive drug release behavior of the system were characterized. Its antioxidant activity, ability to promote cell migration, and capacity to modulate macrophage polarization were evaluated in cellular assays. The therapeutic efficacy was further investigated using a mouse frostbite model, with wound repair analyzed via histological staining. Results: The OR@ZIF-8 nanoparticles achieved a cumulative release rate of 75.46 ± 3.68% under acidic conditions within 36 h. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the formulation significantly scavenged TNF-α and IL-6, by 161.85 ± 19.43% and 125.37 ± 12.65%, respectively, and increased the level of IL-10 by 44.97 ± 4.57%. In a scratch assay, it promoted wound healing, achieving a closure rate of 97.55 ± 2.77% after 36 h. In vivo studies revealed that the OR@ZIF-8@HA treatment group achieved a wound healing rate of 96.14 ± 4.12% on day 14. Conclusions: The OR@ZIF-8@HA composite hydrogel effectively overcomes the limitations of OR application via intelligent pH-responsive delivery. Through synergistic multi-mechanistic actions, it significantly accelerates frostbite wound healing, offering a novel and efficient therapeutic strategy for frostbite management. Full article

An electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated to identify CA15-3, a biomarker for breast cancer (BC). A composite sensor substrate made of “zeolitic imidazolate framework-8” (ZIF-8) and “reduced graphene oxide” (rGO) was chosen and its conductivity was further improved by the addition of chitosan (CS)-doped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The CS@AuNPs are able to conjugate with antibodies via the strong Au-S interaction, which offers multiple active sites for antibody immobilization and enhances the sensor performance. This immunosensor is capable of ultrasensitive detection of CA15-3 by specific antigen–antibody –interactions. In healthy people, normal serum CA15-3 is up to 25 U/mL. Under optimized experimental conditions, the alteration in the signal intensity measured by the sensor was related to the CA15-3 activity. The quantitative relationship was linear over 0.001–400 U/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0031 U/mL at a “signal-to-noise ratio” (S/N) of 3 and a “correlation coefficient” (r²) of 0.9983. The developed immunosensor showed great accuracy, stability, and selectivity, and was able to detect CA15-3 in human serum samples. These results validate its potential as a reliable analytical platform for BC diagnosis and early clinical screening. Full article

The literature consistently identifies Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) as an excellent material for on-demand drug delivery. Its appeal results from its superior loading capacity, inherent stability within physiological environments, and the ability to fine-tune its drug release kinetics. In this work, we investigated the encapsulation of snail slime extracted from Cornu aspersum mucus into ZIF-8. PXRD, SEM microscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy were used for a detailed characterization of the nanoparticles. The antibacterial potential of the ZIF-8-based biocomposite was assayed in vitro against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Overall, the results indicate that encapsulating the snail slime within ZIF-8 enhances its antibacterial activity, yielding a potent antimicrobial material. Full article

The development of efficient, highly stable photocatalysts is essential to address the two challenges of environmental remediation and renewable energy. Structurally strong Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) has intrinsic drawbacks, including a large bandgap and fast charge-carrier recombination. This paper presents a highly efficient approach to designing the optoelectronic behaviour of ZIF-8 via controlled nickel doping. Ni(x)-ZIF-8 (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mol, x), and bimetallic metal–organic frameworks were prepared via a simple room-temperature process. Through adequate characterization, the incorporation of Ni²⁺ into the ZIF-8 lattice has been demonstrated to be successful, resulting in substantial structural and electronic changes. Framework integrity was confirmed using XRD and FTIR analysis, which revealed increased microstrain and the formation of Ni-N bonds. Most importantly, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and electrochemical studies indicated that the bandgap was systematically narrowed: a pristine ZIF-8 had a high bandgap of 3.65 eV, and a Ni(10)-ZIF-8 had a low bandgap of 3.23 eV, while charge-transfer resistance was reduced significantly. All these synergies led to high photocatalytic performance. The best Ni(2.5)-ZIF-8 catalyst achieved a desirable result, degrading methylene blue to more than 98.5%, which was far superior to that of the pure framework. Moreover, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) showed higher electrocatalytic activity, with a significantly lower overpotential and higher current density. This article defines Ni doping as an effective route to convert ZIF-8 into a high-performance, dual-functional photocatalyst. It opens the door to implementing solar-powered environmental remediation and hydrogen generation using ZIF-8. Full article

To meet the demand for rapid and accurate glucose determination in clinical diagnostics, food testing, and related fields, this study developed a high-performance electrochemical glucose biosensor based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes/Prussian blue/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8@glucose oxidase/chitosan (MWCNTs/PB/ZIF-8@GOx/CS). The MWCNTs/PB conductive network significantly accelerated electron transfer and catalytic activity, while the ZIF-8, with its regular pore structure and high specific surface area, provides an efficient microenvironment for the immobilization and conformational stabilization of glucose oxidase (GOx), thereby improving substrate diffusion and maintaining enzyme activity. The MWCNTs/PB/ZIF-8@GOx/CS sensor demonstrates excellent sensing performance, featuring a wide linear response to glucose concentrations ranging from 4.8 μM to 2.24 mM, a high sensitivity of 579.57 μA/mM/cm², and a low detection limit of 0.55 μM (S/N = 3). In addition, the sensor performs excellent repeatability (RSD = 1.49%) and retained 86.23% of its initial response after 3 weeks of storage at 4 °C, highlighting its strong potential for practical application in glucose detection. Full article

Background/Objectives: Kaempferol (KAE) is used to treat gamma radiation-induced damage. However, poor water solubility of KAE restricts its application. Therefore, we developed a KAE-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (KAE@ZIF-8) to improve the solubility and bioavailability of KAE, thereby enhancing the radioprotective effect against gamma radiation. Methods: The composite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), equilibrium solubility assessments, in vitro release studies, stability evaluations, and drug-loading capacity measurements. The cytotoxic effects of KAE@ZIF-8 on Caco-2 cells were assessed in vitro. Meanwhile, the bioavailability of the preparation was also investigated. Finally, the protective efficacy of KAE@ZIF-8 against total body irradiation was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. Results: The results indicated that KAE@ZIF-8 was successfully constructed, exhibiting a uniform hexagonal crystal morphology, with KAE transitioning from a crystalline to an amorphous state. As a carrier, ZIF-8 significantly enhanced the solubility of KAE by 9.2-fold, and the cumulative release within 12 h reached approximately 89%. Meanwhile, ZIF-8 could significantly enhance the bioavailability of KAE and reduce its toxicity. We found that pretreatment with KAE@ZIF-8 prolonged mouse survival time after 9 Gy total body irradiation (TBI). Mice were scarified on the 7th day after 7 Gy TBI. Results showed that KAE@ZIF-8 exhibited an improvement of the radioprotective effects, including weight loss mitigation, spleen index increase, radiation-induced intestinal injury attenuation, and modulation expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β1 following radiation. Conclusions: These results suggest the potential effect of ZIF-8 as an oral drug delivery carrier for radioprotective drugs. Full article

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) can provide fascinating stereo morphology and tunable metal active sites, which plays an important role in the synthesis of various catalytic materials. However, it is still a problem to make use of these advantages to design efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts. Herein, we use covalent coordination strategy to synthesize bimetallic Co_xZn_1−x(2-MeIM)₂ precursors with regular dodecahedral structures for providing uniform active sites and stable carbon skeleton. Furthermore, the ratio of Co and Zn atoms was optimized to balance the electron density and give full play to the synergistic catalytic effect. And then, the subsequent high temperature annealing process is used to construct the amorphous carbon layer, which can improve the overall stability of the material. The gas phase phosphating process realizes the transformation from ZIF material to metal phosphide resulting in enhanced hydrogen evolution activity. Finally, the optimized amorphous nitrogen-doped carbon (NC)-coated Zinc-doped cobalt phosphide (Zn_0.17Co_0.83P@NC) requires only 237.60 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in alkaline medium, which is 223.22 mV lower than that of CoP, and has a stability of up to 18 h. This work provides a reference for the rational design of efficient and stable compound electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution based on the bimetallic ZIF as a precursor. Full article

Green nanotechnology offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach for nanoframework synthesis. The present study intended to synthesize a novel eco-friendly encapsulated Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) in a one-pot method using metabolites from the mangrove plant Conocarpus erectus (CE). Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the extract revealed the presence of important bioactive metabolites. The synthesized material was evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis (PSA), zeta potential measurement, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy studies. The environment-friendly mangrove metabolites aided by Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 was found to be crystalline, rhombic dodecahedron structured, and size dispersed without agglomeration. The nanomaterial possessed a broad antimicrobial effect on drug-resistant microorganisms, including Candida krusei, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus Sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus Sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, C. propicalis, and C. albicans. Further, its cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells was found to be efficient. The morphological alterations exhibited by the antiproliferative impact on the breast cancer cell line were detected using DAPI and AO/EB staining. Therefore, ZIF-8 encapsulated mangrove metabolites could serve as an effective biomaterial with biomedical properties in the future. Full article

Background/Objectives: A non-toxic nano-platform which can increase drug-loading rate and synergistically increase antitumor effect is very ideal. This study provides the concept that a combination of photothermal therapy with chemotherapy and anti-inflammatory therapy will be achieved by ablation of the local tumor, robust strategies for the suppression of distant tumors with enhanced antitumor therapy outcomes. Methods: In this study, the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin (DDP) and the anti-inflammatory drug Aspirin-DL-Lysine (ADL) were loaded into a hollow porous nanomaterial zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), which was then coated with polydopamine, in order to form near-infrared absorption organic nanoparticles DDP-ADL@ZIF-8@PDA with excellent photothermal conversion efficiency. The antitumor efficacy of the nanodrug was evaluated through physicochemical characterization, cell biology studies, and animal experiments. Results: Photothermal therapy (PTT) of polydopamine combined with DDP and ADL can reduce inflammation and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and enhance antitumor effect. The results showed that the combined therapy could effectively eliminate the primary tumor, shrink the distant tumor, and inhibit the metastasis of the tumor. PTT in combination with chemotherapy and anti-inflammatory therapy can inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors, significantly reducing tumor immunosuppression by eliminating bone marrow-derived suppressor cells and increasing levels of cytotoxic T lymphocyte. Conclusions: This study successfully developed a DDP-ADL@ZIF-8@PDA nanomedicine for effective drug delivery, synergistic photothermal therapy, and anti-inflammatory attenuated immunotherapy to enhance treatment of human cervical cancer xenografts in mice. Overall, the combination of photothermal therapy with chemotherapy and anti-inflammatory therapy on a nano-platform has great potential for antitumor therapy applications. Full article

The use of chemical fungicides in agriculture has led to the need for more efficient and sustainable solutions. Controlled-release nanomaterials offer a promising approach by improving fungicide delivery and reducing the need for frequent applications. This study investigates the synthesis of a dual-responsive nanofungicide through the loading of carbendazim (MBC) into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), etching with tannic acid (TA) and the introduction of pectin (PT) to synthesize the MBC@ZTA-PT. The pectin, which was extracted from sweet potato peels, was applied as an eco-friendly, biodegradable additive that enhanced the stability and controlled-release properties of nanofungicide. Tannic acid etching significantly improved MBC loading efficiency. The cumulative release rates after 96 h under three different conditions were 33.12% at pH 7, 59.00% at pH 7 with the addition of pectinase, and 70.74% at pH 5 with the addition of pectinase, highlighting the strong responsiveness of the nanofungicide to pH and enzyme triggers. This dual-response system provided controlled release, thereby enhancing MBC utilization efficiency and minimizing the environmental hazards associated with fungicide applications. The findings suggest that MBC@ZTA-PT represents a promising, environmentally friendly strategy for sustainable plant disease management. Full article