Synthesis of zinc-fumarate based metal-organic framework, labeling with carbon quantum dots, and doxorubicin loading for drug delivery

Preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer has always been a goal and concern in medical science. Chemotherapy is one of the most important methods for cancer treatment. In recent years, significant progress has been made in improving chemotherapy by using various nanocarriers for targeted and controlled delivery of anticancer agents.Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new group of nanoporous materials that are widely used for drug release due to their large-sized holes, high surface area, and selective absorption. In this research, zinc, an intermediary metal cation with low toxicity, was used in the synthesis of metal-organic framework zinc fumarate. The metalorganic zinc fumarate framework and carbon quantum dots were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. They were then characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, UV-Vis absorption spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectrometry, and other techniques. Citric acid was used as the carbon source, and ethylene diamine was used for functionalization during the synthesis of carbon quantum dots. The synthesized carbon quantum dots were used to label the metal-organic framework, and the quantum yield before and after conjugation to the metal-organic framework was measured to be %۰.۵ and .۰.۵, respectively. Doxorubicin was loaded into the metal-organic framework, and the loading efficiency was approximately %%۵. The release of doxorubicin was investigated at ambient temperature and body temperature with two different pH values (pH=%۰ and pH=۴۰۵). The best release percentage was about ۴.۵ at the body temperature (.۴۳C) and at the pH value ofcancer cells (%۰%). Additionally, the toxicity of the synthesized organometallic framework without drugs and carbon quantum dots on the MCF-۴ cell line was investigated, and it was found to be about ۵۵ after ۴۵ hours of incubation. The toxicity of the nanocarrier containing the drug and carbon quantum dots during drug release was alsoinvestigated on the MCF-۴ cell line, and a toxicity of %.۵ was obtained after ۴۵ hours of incubation.

Keywords:

Nanocarriers , Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) , Zinc fumarate , Carbon quantum dots , Hydrothermal synthesis , Cancer treatment , Chemotherapy , Drug delivery , Targeted drug release , MCF-۴ cell line , pH-responsive drug release