Investigation of the loading and release behavior of paracetamol, mesalazine, and carbamazepine utilizing Cu-and Zn(BDC) MOFs

In this work, Cu(BDC) and Zn(BDC) metal organic frameworks were synthesized using an ultrafast ultrasound-assisted method at room temperature for loading and releasing the drugs paracetamol, carbamazepine, and mesalazine. The synthesized MOFs were characterized and identified using FT-IR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and UV-Vis analyses, and the characterization data were complemented by BET and EDX surface area measurements. BET results confirmed the porous structure of the MOFs, and EDX confirmed the complete removal of CTAB and successful drug incorporation. The loading behavior of the MOFs were evaluated using TGA, which showed efficiencies of 21.3% (paracetamol), 20.8% (carbamazepine), and 33.1% (mesalazine) for the Cu(BDC) MOF, while 25.2%, 61.1% and 36.4% were achieved for the same drugs using the Zn(BDC) MOF. Drug release studies were performed in phosphate buffer solution at 37°C, simulating physiological conditions. The results showed that the ultrasonically synthesized Cu-BDC and Zn-BDC MOFs possess stable porosity, effective drug loading capability, and distinct release behaviors. This comparison highlights their potential as tunable platforms for controlled drug delivery applications.