Enhanced performance of a metal-organic framework analogue to MIL-101(Cr) containing amine groups for ibuprofen and nimesulide controlled release

• Functionalization of a MOF with NH2 groups improves the materials loading capacity of ibuprofen and nimesulide.
• Functionalization decreases the surface area with concomitant increase of loading capacity.
• Functionalization of the matrix can prolong the release time of a drug.
• Diffusion and swelling are relevant for the mechanism of drug release.

In order to improve the interaction of MIL-101(Cr) with ibuprofen (IBU) and nimesulide (NMS), its functionalization with NH2 groups was proposed. MIL-101(Cr) showed a good loading capacity of IBU and NMS (850 and 443 mg g− 1, respectively) and released 80% of IBU and 10% and NMS after 8 days. The 10% NH2-MIL-101(Cr) showed a higher loading capacity than MIL-101(Cr) (900 mg g− 1 for IBU and 563 mg g− 1 for NMS) and released lower amounts of IBU (70%) after 6 days and NMS (8%) after 8 days. The results show that the functionalization with NH2 groups improves the interactions between the materials and the drugs, which is of interest in the development of new controlled drug release devices.

The amine-tagged MOF showed a higher loading capacity than the untagged one for IBU and NMS. Functionalization with NH2 groups improves the interactions between the materials and the drugs.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide