Dual-Functioning Metal-Organic Frameworks: Methotrexate-Loaded Gadolinium MOFs as Drug Carriers and Radiosensitizers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology
• Radiotherapy

Background:

• Cancer poses a significant global health burden, driving the need for advanced therapeutic strategies.
• Innovative drug delivery systems are crucial for improving anticancer treatment efficacy and reducing side effects.
• Nanomaterials offer unique properties for targeted drug delivery and therapeutic enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate gadolinium metal-organic frameworks (Gd-MOFs) as a drug delivery system for anticancer therapy.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of Gd-MOFs loaded with methotrexate (MTX) when combined with radiotherapy.
• To assess the selective cytotoxicity of MTX/Gd-MOF and radiotherapy on cancer cells versus healthy cells.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Gd-MOFs using terephthalic acid and gadolinium (III) chloride hexahydrate.
• Loading of methotrexate (MTX) into Gd-MOFs and characterization using FTIR, TGA, DSC, MRI, and XRD.
• In vitro assessment of anticancer effects on A549 (lung cancer) and BEAS-2B (healthy bronchial epithelial) cells using MTT assay under radiotherapy.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis and structural confirmation of Gd-MOFs with effective MTX loading and controlled release.
• MTX/Gd-MOF combined with radiotherapy demonstrated significantly higher cytotoxicity against A549 cancer cells (41.89% viability reduction) compared to BEAS-2B healthy cells (56.80% viability reduction).
• The combination therapy exhibited selective killing of cancer cells, indicating enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Gd-MOFs serve as effective drug delivery vehicles for methotrexate in anticancer therapy.
• Gd-MOFs act as radiosensitizers, enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy.
• This combinatory approach holds significant potential for improving cancer treatment outcomes through targeted drug delivery and radiosensitization.