a low cytotoxic porous zinc-adeninate metal-organic framework carrier: ph-triggered drug release and anti-breast cancer study

In this study, a new zinc-based porous metal-organic framework (mof) [zn2(ad)2(hmdb)(h2o)](dmf)2(h2o) based on zinc(ii) ions, biomolecular adenine (had) and 4,4′-(hydroxymethylene)dibenzoic acid (h2hmdb) has been successfully prepared under solvothermal conditions. the x-ray study reveals that compound 1 belongs to the monoclinic space group c2/c and reveals a three-dimensional channel-type neutral framework. this mof exhibits low toxicity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium (mtt) assay. due to its suitable channel size and good stability in biological buffer solution, the activated 1 has been used as a carrier for loading the anticancer drug 5-fu (5-fluorouracil) though a simple adsorption process. the successful loading of 5-fu was confirmed by the gas sorption measurement and the loading capacity was characterized by uv–vis spectroscopy, which reveal a drug loading of 32.2 wt%. the drug delivery in the simulated cancerous tissues (ph = 5.0) exhibited a more effective release in comparison with that in the normal tissues (ph = 7.4), demonstrating a physiological ph-responsive drug release. furthermore, in vitro cytotoxicity of 1 and 5-fu loaded 1a was also evaluated using mtt assays against hepg2 and mcf-7 cells. a new zinc-based porous metal-organic framework (mof) has been successfully prepared under solvothermal conditions. due to its suitable channel size and good stability in biological buffers solution, compound 1 has been used as a carrier for loading the anticancer drug 5-fu (5-fluorouracil) though a simple adsorption process. the drug-loaded mof demonstrates a physiological ph-responsive drug release.