Researchers at ICN2 have developed innovative structures that combine metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with biological molecules, offering the potential to significantly impact the transport and delivery of drugs and other substances.
A new research study led by Dr Mary Cano and ICREA Prof. Daniel Maspoch from the ICN2 Supramolecular Nanochemistry and Materials Group has achieved a significant breakthrough in nanoencapsulation. The researchers have successfully developed novel hybrid materials that combine natural lipid structures, such as liposomes, with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These structures can precisely encapsulate, store, and release drugs and other agents in a controlled manner.
The study, which has been a collaboration with scientists from Graz University of Technology (Austria), has been published in the journal Small.
What are MOFs?
MOFs are 3D, nanoscale materials formed by the bonding of metals and organic molecules. Their stability and highly porous structure have made them useful in a wide range of applications, from drug delivery to the storage of gases and other substances.
Implications in biomedicine and nanotechnology
In this research, the scientists used a specific type of MOF, ZIF-8, which showed a great capacity to combine with liposomes and other biological vesicles, which are responsible for transporting substances at the cellular level. The resulting hybrid structures were particularly effective in transporting hydrophobic molecules, such as pigments and dyes, which do not normally dissolve in water.
The study also showed that the structure of the MOF can be modified depending on the medium in which it is found, affecting its stability and the way it releases its contents. This could be very useful for developing different encapsulation technologies that can be adapted to different types of media.
In summary, this discovery could have significant implications for biomedicine and nanotechnology, opening up new possibilities for the design of advanced drug encapsulation and delivery systems.
Reference article:
Cano-Sarabia, M; Aydin, F; Meng, L; Gil-Bonillo, M; Fonseca, J; Dietrich, M; Renner, S; Amenitsch, H; Falcaro, P; Imaz, I; Maspoch, D. Lipid/ZIF-8 Biocomposites Based on Liposomes or Vesicles: In Situ Formation, and Preliminary Evaluation as Delivery Vehicles for Hydrophobic Drugs. Small (2025). https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202407051