Metal-organic-framework-coated optical fibers as light-triggered drug delivery vehicles

Physical delivery of anticancer drugs in controlled anatomic locations can complement the advances being made in chemo-selective therapies. To this end, an optical fiber catheter is coated in a thin layer of metal organic framework UiO-66 and the anticancer drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is deposited within the pores. Delivery of light of appropriate wavelength through the fiber catheter is found to trigger the release of 5-FU on demand, offering a new route to localized drug administration. The system exhibits great potential with as much as 110 × 10-6 m of 5-FU delivered within 1 min from one fiber.