Telescopic synthesis and encapsulation of anticancer drugs from Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. with zeolitic imidazole framework‐8

Cancer is one of the world's fastest‐emerging noncommunicable diseases and one of the major causes of death. Zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) is a subclass of metal–organic frameworks made up of organic linkers and inorganic nodes. Responsive nanocarriers with biocompatibility and precise drug release ability, superior stability under physiological conditions, pH responsiveness, and tunable drug release properties have emerged as prospective properties of ZIF‐8. Among the different options proposed for cancer treatment, natural products are used to find novel hits, which emerge as one of the most successful methods with no adverse effects. Here, we developed a novel nanoscale ZIF‐8 core encapsulated drugs extracted from Ajuga bracteosa extract in its frameworks through a facile and efficient strategy. ZIF‐8@ABE NPs show a sixfold improvement in instability compared with that of free ABE. It can internalize the NPs into cells and present targeted effects of inhibition of growth on the human Caucasian lung carcinoma cell line (A549) (adenocarcinoma). The sustained release behavior of ZIF‐8@ABE has shown a higher efficacy than the free ABE. We envisage that such a biocompatible and biodegradable delivery system may promote the development and translation of hybrid superstructures into smart and personalized delivery platforms, but the limitations imposed by limited loading capacities have stymied the development of innovative multifunctional drug delivery systems.