Electrospun nanofiber membrane of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol embedded with DOX-loaded V-MOFs for controlled drug release and multifunctional biological activity

Abstract

The integration of doxorubicin-loaded vanadium metal–organic frameworks (DOX@V-MOFs) into chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA) electrospun nanofiber membranes has resulted in a novel multifunctional, stimuli-responsive drug delivery system. This hybrid platform was synthesized via one-step electrospinning and characterized thoroughly using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, XPS, EDX, and N₂ adsorption–desorption analyses to confirm successful drug encapsulation with the structural integrity of the support material being maintained. The resultant membrane demonstrated a dual-responsive mechanism towards pH and temperature stimuli that significantly enhanced drug release under simulated tumor conditions at an acidic pH of 5.0 and elevated temperatures from 37 to 42 °C. The release kinetics followed zero-order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer-Peppas models indicating the dominant role of diffusion-controlled mechanisms in the release processes. Extremely potent cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines was displayed by the DOX@V-MOF membranes including models for liver cancer (HepG-2) and breast cancer (MCF-7) together with high antioxidant as well as antibacterial properties against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Optimization through a Box-Behnken design revealed that pH, temperature, and time are significant parameters controlling the dynamics of drug release. These results support the hypothesis that DOX@V-MOF nanofibers may serve as a new mechanism for controlled drug release in localized cancer therapy along with multiple biomedical applications requiring integrated anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.