Facile synthesis of redox-responsive paclitaxel drug release platform using metal-organic frameworks (ZIF-8) for gastric cancer treatment

Abstract This paper investigated the dual-role of cystamine as a surface modification linker and stimuli-responsive material, and simplify redox-responsive drug delivery system synthesis. ZIF-8 is used as the drug delivery vehicle (due to its exceptional biocompatibility), cystamine is used as the linker and redox-sensitive material, and paclitaxel (PTX) is selected as the anti-tumor drug. Redox-responsive paclitaxel drug delivery platform based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) was synthesized by using ZIF-8 as the drug delivery vehicle, and cystamine as the linker and redox-sensitive material. The morphology of ZIF-8 was determined by the Transmitting Electron Microscope (TEM), and the crystal structure was determined by x-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface modification of ZIF-8 was studied by the Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) study indicated that surface modification has little impact on the specific surface area and pore size distribution of ZIF-8. The drug release of ZIF-8/cystamine/paclitaxel was studied under different pH and glutathione concentrations. The cytotoxicity was investigated with human gastric cancer cells. Higher glutathione (GSH) concentration and lower pH were favorable to the release of paclitaxel from ZIF-8/cystamine/paclitaxel, and the drug release platform provided a higher tumor-killing effect than free paclitaxel solution.