Nanoparticles for targeted non-surgical spaying and neutering

A plurality of nanoparticles for sterilization, wherein the nanoparticles comprise

• a cage,
• a surface modifying agent,
• a targeting ligand, and
• an active agent,
• wherein the cage is a zeolitic imidazolate framework (“ZIF”),
• wherein the surface modifying agent comprises a polymer backbone,
• wherein the targeting ligand is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (“GnRH”) receptor agonist, a follicle stimulating hormone (“FSH”) receptor agonist, or a luteinizing hormone (“LH”) receptor agonist, or a combination thereof,
• wherein the active agent is a ribosome inactivating protein, an apoptosis inducer, a hormone, a receptor ligand, or a nucleic acid, or a combination thereof,
• wherein the surface modifying agent is attached to an outer surface of the cage, wherein the targeting ligand is conjugated to the surface modifying agent, wherein the targeting ligand is exposed to a surrounding environment, and
• wherein the active agent is encapsulated in the cage.