Multimodal enzyme delivery and therapy enabled by cell membrane-coated metal–organic framework nanoparticles

Summary

This preclinical research develops a biomimetic metal–organic framework carrier for therapeutic enzymes whose usefulness is often limited by instability and unfavorable pharmacokinetics. The porous MOF core efficiently encapsulated enzymes while preserving their catalytic activity. A natural cell-membrane coating then improved biological compatibility sufficiently to permit in vivo administration. Importantly, the membrane was treated as more than camouflage: its surface receptors supplied additional functions that could cooperate with the enzyme cargo and address disease pathology through complementary mechanisms. Uricase served as the model therapeutic enzyme, and the complete formulation was tested across multiple animal disease models. The reported outcomes supported both delivery and therapeutic utility of the membrane-coated MOF. The principal finding is that a single nanostructure can protect an enzyme and add receptor-mediated biological functions through its outer membrane, enabling multimodal treatment rather than simple enzyme replacement. Its significance is a modular strategy that may broaden the diseases amenable to enzyme therapy and improve performance without altering the enzyme itself. The abstract does not identify the membrane source, animal models, receptor contributions, quantitative pharmacokinetics, comparative efficacy, or immune and long-term safety.