Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Framework Nanocarrier for the Controlled Release of Ibuprofen

Electrospray-differential mobility analysis coupled with aerosol particle mass analysis (ES-DMA/APM) was demonstrated for the development of a metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocarrier system. A successful quantification of ibuprofen loading in UiO-66-NH2 (i.e., the representative drug molecule and MOF, respectively) achieved based on the aerosol particle mass of MOF measured by ES-DMA/APM (approximate to 55 mg of ibuprofen/g of UiO-66-NH2). The structural stability of UiO-66-NH2 versus ibuprofen release was successfully quantified over a 7-day period in an acidic phosphate buffer solution. The methodology provides a proof-of-concept scheme for controlled release studies of different types of active pharmaceutical ingredients from a variety of MOF-based nanocarrier systems.