Original: https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-025-04380-x
Ovarian cancer is a common and serious cancer of the female reproductive system. Curcumin (Cur) has shown promise as a treatment, but it is difficult to create an effective delivery system that brings curcumin into tumor cells. The development of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs) provides a new platform for delivering anticancer drugs.
In this study, we designed a ZIF-based nanodrug system called ZIF-Cur, which encapsulates curcumin and helps it enter ovarian cancer cells more effectively. We found that curcumin delivered through ZIF-Cur increased the buildup of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor cells, which led to cancer cell death. The system also showed a good safety profile.
Overall, this work offers a new therapeutic approach for treating ovarian cancer using ZIF-based curcumin delivery.