Application of a Nanoporous Metal Organic Framework Based on Iron Carboxylate as Drug Delivery System

In the present study, a nanoporous metal organic framework (MOF) based on iron metal and amino terephthalate ligand MIL-101-NH₂-Fe has been used as a carrier for loading and in-vitro release of 5-flurouracil (5-FU) anticancer drug. The 5-FU drug loaded MOF was 13 wt % by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The 5-FU release was monitored under physiological condition at 37 °C, pH 7.4 in simulated body fluid (SBF) by using spectrophotometry. The drug demonstrated a slow release profile where 98% of the drug was released in 4 days. Loading of drug was characterized by Fournier transform infrared (FTI-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The crystalline structure was monitored by using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and after loading of drug in the MOF, the pattern of samples was remained the same. The morphology and size of samples were showed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and based on the MOF has a length of 500 nm and an average diameter of 200 nm. These structural characterizations were performed to verify the 5-FU drug loading in MIL-101-NH₂-Fe. The MOF stability was studied by measuring the iron concentration in the SBF solution with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The MTT assay method was assessed the ability of this drug delivery system on overcoming MCF-7 breast cancer cells in comparison with the free drug and the carrier alone. Based on the results, this drug loaded nanoparticle could achieve more cell death as compared to the free 5-FU drug.