Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks for use in Medical Devices

Background

​Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of materials whose synthetic versatility and porous crystalline frameworks have propagated their exploration across the spectrum of materials chemistry including gas storage, chromatography, catalysis, and, most recently, biomedicine. However, realistic applications of MOFs have been inhibited primarily due to a lack of thermal stability as well as the uncontrollable release of incorporated payloads, such as hydrogen for fuel cells and therapeutic molecules when used as drug delivery vehicles.

In biological applications, site localized effects are critical towards the ultimate success of materials. Thus, the dispersion of fine powders consisting of MOFs are typically undesirable. As such, the integration of MOFs with solid supports can lead to the potential use of MOFs in previously unrecognized applications. Composite MOF materials, also known as mixed matrix membranes, may be prepared by dispersing MOF particles, such as CuBTC, into polymeric matrices and may facilitate the use towards gas separations and catalysis. The incorporation of these inorganic frameworks into materials creates a symbiotic system allowing enhanced properties of both systems involved. However, these systems have several shortcomings, including leaching.

Multifunctional MOF materials that can bridge the gap between heterogeneous catalysis and drug delivery can revolutionize the development of biomedical devices. Traditionally the use of MOFs as drug delivery vehicles relies on the subsequent incorporation of therapeutics into the pore space.  While this has been explored as a viable method for delivery therapeutics it remains limited by the often uncontrollable release of therapeutics, the restriction that only one mode of therapeutic action can be achieved, and the supply of therapeutics is thus restricted to the amount that can be incorporated into the MOF.