Controlled drug delivery offers a viable strategy for cancer treatment by reducing harmful side effects and improving therapeutic effectiveness against tumors. Multifunctional materials are ideal platforms for effective drug delivery systems in cancer treatment. Here, nanocellulose (NC) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were functionalized using a type of ionic liquid (IL, specifically 1-Methyl-3-oxiran-2-ylmethyl-1H-imidazole-3-ium chloride). Subsequently, MCC/IL/ZIF-67 and NC/IL/ZIF-67 composites were obtained via in situ synthesis of ZIF-67. Biocompatible materials, such as cellulose, ionic liquids with functional groups, porosity, and acid sensitivity of ZIF-67, enable the composite to demonstrate a superior doxorubicin (DOX) loading capacity and excellent pH-triggered release compared to most polymeric nanocarriers. The findings of the analysis showed an acceptable drug loading capacity of 32 % and a high drug loading efficiency of 96 %. This result highlights the potential of multifunctional composites as effective drug delivery systems for tumor therapy, making them promising candidates for future therapeutic applications.
Keywords: Doxorubicin; Drug delivery; Ionic liquid; Polyelectrolyte cellulose; Zeolitic-imidazolate framework.
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