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Abstract
Introduction
The flexibility and tunability of metal organic frameworks (MOFs), crystalline porous materials composed of a network of metal ions coordinated by organic ligands, confer their variety of applications as drug delivery systems or as sensing and imaging agents. However, such properties also add to the difficulty in ensuring their safe implementation when interaction with biological systems is considered.
Methods
In the current study, we used real-time sensorial strategies and cellular-based approaches to allow for fast and effective screening of two MOFs of prevalent use, namely, MIL-160 representative of a hydrophilic and ZIF-8 representative of a hydrophobic framework. The two MOFs were synthesized “in house” and exposed to human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells, a pertinent toxicological screening model.
Results
Analysis allowed evaluation and differentiation of particle-induced cellular effects as well identification of different degrees and routes of toxicity, all in a high-throughput manner. Our results show the importance of performing screening toxicity assessments before introducing MOFs to biomedical applications.
Discussion
Our proposed screening assays could be extended to a wider variety of cell lines to allow for identification of any deleterious effects of MOFs, with the range of toxic mechanisms to be differentiated based on cell viability, morphology and cell–substrate interactions, respectively.
Conclusion
Our analysis highlights the importance of considering the physicochemical properties of MOFs when recommending a MOF-based therapeutic option or MOFs implementation in biomedical applications.
Acknowledgment
This work was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant 1454230 and National Institutes of Health (R01-ES022968). Olivia L Rose and Cerasela Zoica Dinu also acknowledge the NSF, DMR1559880.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.