Efficient drug delivery of β-estradiol encapsulated in Zn-metal-organic framework nanostructures by microwave-assisted coprecipitation method.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are structures made up of inorganic nodes, which can be either single ions or clusters of ions and organic linkers. This study reports on a novel processing route for producing β-estradiol encapsulated in Zn-MOF nanocomposites by microwave-assisted coprecipitation as a facile and fast method. Zn-MOF nanocomposites were synthesized with the aid of Zn(OAc)2 ⋅2H2 O and 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acid ammonium as an organic ligand. Furthermore, we studied encapsulated β-estradiol which is one of the most important classes of estrogenic compounds that are used in the treatment of prostate cancer and breast cancer. The effects of β-estradiol concentration and microwave irradiation on the morphology, particle size, distribution, and in vitro photoluminescence spectroscopy experiments of β-estradiol entrapped in Zn-MOF nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller spectroscopy. These nanostructures can be a good option for thawing hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs over time. Zn-MOF nanocomposites with high porosity, total pore volume (0.04665 cm3 g-1 ), and nanostructures have provided the platform to load β-estradiol such as low soluble drugs. Maximum of drug release was about 82% at pH 8.9 after 8 h.