Efficient drug delivery of 5-fluorouracil by a biocompatible Zn-metal–organic framework nanostructure and anti-liver cancer activity study

Porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are structures made up of inorganic nodes and organic ligands, which can be used as crystalline vessels to accommodate various functional guests. This study reports on the drug delivery of a new porous metal–organic framework [Zn3(BTC)2(Aml)(H2O)2](MeOH)6 (1, H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, Aml = ammeline). The Zn-MOF nanocomposites were synthesized by reaction of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and the organic ligand with the aid of polyvinyl pyrrolidone. Stability and porosity of this nanostructure have been confirmed via the PXRD measurement and gas sorption studies. Due to its large BET surface areas, suitable window size, and high density of open free N sites, this MOF has been used for the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) storage/delivery, a moderate–high 5-Fu loading capacity, and pH-dependent drug release behavior which could be observed. Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the nano-1 and the 5-Fu@nano-1 composite toward the human normal fibroblastic epithelial cell line (HFL1) and human liver cancer cell line HepG2 has been evaluated via the MTT assay.