Water-dispersible PEG-curcumin/amine-functionalized covalent organic framework nanocomposites as smart carriers for in vivo drug delivery

Nat Commun. 2018 Jul 17;9(1):2785. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04910-5.

Abstract

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as drug-delivery carriers have been mostly evaluated in vitro due to the lack of COFs nanocarriers that are suitable for in vivo studies. Here we develop a series of water-dispersible polymer-COF nanocomposites through the assembly of polyethylene-glycol-modified monofunctional curcumin derivatives (PEG-CCM) and amine-functionalized COFs (APTES-COF-1) for in vitro and in vivo drug delivery. The real-time fluorescence response shows efficient tracking of the COF-based materials upon cellular uptake and anticancer drug (doxorubicin (DOX)) release. Notably, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that PEG-CCM@APTES-COF-1 is a smart carrier for drug delivery with superior stability, intrinsic biodegradability, high DOX loading capacity, strong and stable fluorescence, prolonged circulation time and improved drug accumulation in tumors. More intriguingly, PEG350-CCM@APTES-COF-1 presents an effective targeting strategy for brain research. We envisage that PEG-CCM@APTES-COF-1 nanocomposites represent a great promise toward the development of a multifunctional platform for cancer-targeted in vivo drug delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / chemistry
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Curcumin / chemistry*
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Carriers*
  • Drug Compounding
  • Female
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Nanocomposites / administration & dosage
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Optical Imaging
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Propylamines / chemistry
  • Silanes / chemistry
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Water / chemistry
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Amines
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Drug Carriers
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks
  • Propylamines
  • Silanes
  • Water
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Doxorubicin
  • Curcumin
  • amino-propyl-triethoxysilane