Issue 46, 2022

Carrier gas triggered controlled biolistic delivery of DNA and protein therapeutics from metal–organic frameworks

Abstract

The efficacy and specificity of protein, DNA, and RNA-based drugs make them popular in the clinic; however, these drugs are often delivered via injection, requiring skilled medical personnel, and producing biohazardous waste. Here, we report an approach that allows for their controlled delivery, affording either a burst or slow release without altering the formulation. We show that when encapsulated within zeolitic-imidazolate framework eight (ZIF-8), the biomolecules are stable in powder formulations and can be inoculated with a low-cost, gas-powered “MOF-Jet” into living animal and plant tissues. Additionally, their release profiles can be modulated through judicious selection of the carrier gas used in the MOF-Jet. Our in vitro and in vivo studies reveal that when CO2 is used, it creates a transient and weakly acidic local environment that causes a near-instantaneous release of the biomolecules through an immediate dissolution of ZIF-8. Conversely, when air is used, ZIF-8 biodegrades slowly, releasing the biomolecules over a week. This is the first example of controlled-biolistic delivery of biomolecules using ZIF-8, which provides a powerful tool for fundamental and applied science research.

Graphical abstract: Carrier gas triggered controlled biolistic delivery of DNA and protein therapeutics from metal–organic frameworks

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
06 sep. 2022
Accepted
24 okt. 2022
First published
26 okt. 2022
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 13803-13814

Carrier gas triggered controlled biolistic delivery of DNA and protein therapeutics from metal–organic frameworks

Y. H. Wijesundara, F. C. Herbert, O. Trashi, I. Trashi, O. R. Brohlin, S. Kumari, T. Howlett, C. E. Benjamin, A. Shahrivarkevishahi, S. D. Diwakara, S. D. Perera, S. A. Cornelius, J. P. Vizuet, K. J. Balkus, R. A. Smaldone, N. J. De Nisco and J. J. Gassensmith, Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 13803 DOI: 10.1039/D2SC04982A

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