Scientists have developed a technique for controlling the openings of porous materials at the molecular level, potentially advancing drug delivery and other applications requiring precisely regulated molecular transport.
Published in Nature Communications, the research demonstrates how electronic modifications to dynamic chemical bonds can create reversible gates within metal-organic frameworks.
These crystalline materials contain extremely small pores capable of holding molecules. Their fixed openings, however, often prevent larger compounds from entering.
The researchers addressed this limitation by modifying imine-based molecular linkers within a zirconium-based framework. Carefully tuned bond dynamics temporarily expand pore accessibility while preserving the material's overall structure.
As a demonstration, the team encapsulated therapeutic compounds, including the cancer drug paclitaxel, and reported programmable release behavior under physiological conditions.
The findings complement broader efforts to engineer materials with precisely controlled chemical properties and develop microscale materials for targeted medicine.
Although the materials demonstrated biocompatibility in reported experiments, the research does not establish their clinical safety or effectiveness as treatments.