Core-Shell Structured Metal-Organic Frameworks for pH-Triggered Combination Photodynamic/Chemotherapy-Based Cancer Treatment.

ABSTRACT: The use of hypoxia-activated prodrugs is a promising strategy to address the limitations of photodynamic therapy (PDT) caused by a hypoxic tumor microenvironment. However, the controlled release of these hypoxia-activated prodrugs during PDT remains a challenge. In this study, we present a metal-organic framework (MOF) with a core-shell structure that can achieve a high PDT efficacy and on-demand release of hypoxia-activated prodrugs (AQ4N) for hypoxic tumor therapy. The nanocomposites were created by assembling zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8) onto the surface of AQ4N-encapsulated porphyrinic MOF, followed by surface functionalization with folic acid-conjugated polyethylene glycol. AQ4N is entrapped in the mesopores of MOFs, and it shows acidic environment-triggered release due to

SUBMITTER: Liu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11751201 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature