Synthesis and characterization of α-Fe2O3 nanoplates/aluminum fumarate metal-organic framework nanosheets as a nanocarrier for anticancer drug

alpha-Fe2O3 nanoplates/Aluminum Fumarate metal-organic framework (alpha-Fe2O3/AlFu) nanocarriers were successfully synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method and used as a drug delivery system (DDS). 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) as an anticancer drug was incorporated into the nanocarriers through plunging in the drug solution (5-Fu/ alpha-Fe2O3/AlFu). The developed nanocarriers, including AlFu, alpha-Fe2O3/AlFu, and 5-Fu/alpha-Fe2O3/AlFu, were wellcharacterized which confirmed their successful synthesis. The electron microscopy images indicated that the flower shape of AlFu MOF with an average diameter of 500 nm was decorated with the alpha-Fe2O3 nanoplates. The flower of AlFu was formed by some nanosheets with a diameter of 20 nm. The average diameter of the nanoplates of alpha-Fe2O3 was about 200 nm. The alpha-Fe2O3 nanoplates fell apart from the AlFu flower and were located on the nanosheets of AlFu. The nanocarriers with high surface areas were found to be proper support for loading the 5Fu drug. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) results revealed that 5-Fu/alpha-Fe2O3/AlFu nanocarriers retained superparamagnetic properties when embedded with alpha-Fe2O3 nanoplates. Results represent the better loading efficiency of the alpha-Fe2O3/AlFu nanocarriers (65 %) compared to its components. To demonstrate the efficiency of 5-Fu/alpha-Fe2O3/AlFu as novel nanocarriers for controlled release of 5-Fu, in-vitro drug delivery tests were carried out in a simulated normal (pH = 7.4 and T = 37.4 degrees C) and tumor (pH = 5 and T = 42 degrees C) tissues' environment. It was shown that low drug release (59.8 %) occurred at neutral pH and that more than 88.8 % of the loaded drug was released at the condition of cancer cells. Temperature and pH stimulate 5-Fu release from nanocarriers. Under cancer cells conditions, the release kinetic follows the Weibull distribution model, while in normal cells conditions, the Korsmeyer-Peppas model is used. Notably, the MTT test established that the alpha-Fe2O3/AlFu nanocarriers have no toxicity against BT-20 breast cancer cells.