Synthesis of Zn2(BDC)2(DABCO) Metal–Organic Framework and Its Polyethylene Glycol Composite for Acetaminophen Delivery

New drug delivery systems (DDSs) help diagnose and treat diseases using targeted and controlled drug delivery. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are novel DDSs since they have a large surface area, adjustable pore sizes, and controlled drug release. The present work is dealt with the release and loading of acetaminophen in Zn2(BDC)2(DABCO) MOF and its polyethylene glycol composite (PEG) at room temperature. The samples were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis for determining the functional groups and checking the amount of drug loading in the MOF and MOF-PEG. In addition, X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, zeta potential, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy were employed to investigate the crystal structure, morphology and size, surface area, surface charge, and acetaminophen release, respectively. The drug release was also monitored in the phosphate-buffered saline solutions with a pH value of 7.4 at 37 °C, and 100% and 98% of the loaded drug were released in the MOFs and MOF-PEG structure in the 1 and 2 h. The results revealed that acetaminophen molecules were successfully encapsulated in the MOF and MOF-PEG, and rapid drug release occurred in the dissolution medium.