Researchers Develop New Drug Delivery System for Cancer Treatment

Researchers from the Iran University of Science and Technology have created a novel drug delivery system that uses nanocellulose and microcrystalline cellulose to improve therapeutic effectiveness against tumors. The system, which combines functionalized ionic liquid and metal-organic frameworks, has shown superior doxorubicin loading capacity and excellent pH-triggered release compared to traditional polymeric nanocarriers. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by reducing harmful side effects and improving patient outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new drug delivery system uses nanocellulose and microcrystalline cellulose to improve therapeutic effectiveness against tumors.
  • The system combines functionalized ionic liquid and metal-organic frameworks to enhance doxorubicin loading capacity and pH-triggered release.
  • The research team achieved an acceptable drug loading capacity of 32% and a high drug loading efficiency of 96%.
  • The findings highlight the potential of multifunctional composites as effective drug delivery systems for tumor therapy.
  • The system demonstrates superior performance compared to traditional polymeric nanocarriers.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
  • The team consists of researchers from Iran University of Science and Technology, including Amirhossein Khoshnevisan, Zahra Farajzadeh, Reza Taghavi, Mohammad Reza Naimi-Jamal, Elham Zarenezhad, and Sadegh Rostamnia.

Statistics:

  • The new drug delivery system has a 32% drug loading capacity.
  • The system has a high drug loading efficiency of 96%.
  • The research team achieved a pH-triggered release that outperforms traditional polymeric nanocarriers.
  • The findings suggest that multifunctional composites have the potential to become effective drug delivery systems for future therapeutic applications.
  • The research was published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules in 2025.

Sources:

  • Integration of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into polyelectrolyte-functionalized nanocellulose polymer: A smart sustainable macromolecular composite. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025:147097.
  • NewsRx. Data on Sustainability Research Described by Researchers at Iran University of Science and Technology [Integration of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into polyelectrolyte-functionalized nanocellulose polymer: A smart sustainable macromolecular ...]. Biotech Week. September 17, 2025; p 40.