Polymer Brush Decorated MOF Nanoparticles Loaded with AIEgen, Anticancer Drug, and Supramolecular Glue for Regulating and In Situ Observing DOX Release.

UiO-66-based metal-organic framework nanoparticles functionalized with abundant polycationic segments as polymer brushes on surface are created to load negatively charged functional entities composed of anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), and aggregation-induced emissive luminogen, a tetraphenylethene (TPE) derivative, followed by further modification with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) as a supramolecular glue with the aim of pursuing a pH-responsive release function of the loaded functional components. The subsequent investigations verified the constructed formulation capable of promoting the stability and cellular uptake of the nanoparticles. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer between TPE donor and DOX acceptor enables in situ observation of pH-responsive DOX release. Significantly, CB modification appears to facilitate intracellular release of the DOX payload, eventually accounting for potent cytotoxicity to the treated cells.