γ-Cyclodextrin metal-organic framework as a carrier to deliver triptolide for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Triptolide (TPL) has been employed to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the poor water solubility of TPL restricts its applications. Therefore, we prepared TPL-loaded cyclodextrin-based metal–organic framework (TPL@CD-MOF) to improve the solubility and bioavailability of TPL, thus enhancing the anti-tumor effect on HCC. The BET surface and the pore size of TPL@CD-MOF were 10.4 m2·g−1 and 1.1 nm, respectively. The results of XRD indicated that TPL in TPL@CD-MOF was encapsuled. TPL@CD-MOF showed a slower release than free TPL in vitro. Moreover, the CD-MOF improved the bioavailability of TPL. TPL@CD-MOF showed slightly higher, but statistically significant, anti-tumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo compared to free TPL. In addition, TPL@CD-MOF exhibited a modest improvement of the anti-tumor effects, which may be associated to the enhanced in vivo absorption. Overall, these findings suggested the potential CD-MOF as oral drug delivery carriers for anti-tumor drugs. The process of TPL loading into CD-MOF and its enhanced oral bioavailability and anti-tumor activity.