Gas Delivery from Extruded MOF–Polymer Composites for Mitigation of Complications Associated with Catheters Used in Interventional Cardiology

The large internal surface areas and porosities of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) promise a wide variety of applications in gas capture, storage, and delivery. To realize their potential, MOFs need to be processed into suitable forms for the target function. Here, we demonstrate the preparation and functional assessment of extruded MOF-polymer composite tubing comprising 1 and 5 wt % Zn-MOF-74 incorporated into a medical-grade polyamide/polyether block copolymer for the delivery of the biological signaling molecule, nitric oxide (NO). Solutions to the challenges associated with water evolution during extrusion, which can severely affect the composite properties, are presented. We employ X-ray computed tomography to provide evidence for uniform dispersion of the MOF within the tubing, and we show that the mechanical properties of the polymer tubing are not negatively impacted by MOF incorporation. We demonstrate using in vitro experiments that the gas-loaded tubing is non-toxic and that the MOF-polymer composite delivers NO at amounts relevant for the prevention of three of the most common complications in different types of catheterizations: arterial vasospasm, catheter-related thrombosis, and microbial infection.