Facile microwave synthesis of Ca-BDC metal organic framework for adsorption and controlled release of Curcumin

Variability and lack of control over desired structures made synthesis of Ca-BDC metal organic framework (MOF) with permanent porosity difficult with negligible (orthorhombic) to low/moderate (triclinic) porosity and scarcely investigated. This work reports a microwave route of synthesizing Ca-BDC and subsequent adsorption-desorption (release) study of Curcumin. Ca-BDC reportedly showed a strong adsorption affinity for Curcumin (0.14 gg-1), probably due to coordination linkage between calcium-oxo cluster and the substrate. Upon desorption, in presence of Tween-20 (an emulsifier), curcumin dissociates into micellar form. The study showed a cumulative release of ca. 57.2% curcumin in Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) system at pH-7.4. The released curcumin (in micellar form), having high bio-availability can easily be assimilated into cell membranes and hence Ca-BDC as a carrier holds promise in controlled drug delivery applications.