Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of a new nanostructured Ca(II)-MOF as 5-FU delivery system to inhibit human lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induce cell apoptosis

Abstract

A new porous metal-organic framework material, {Ca₃(TATAB)₂ (H₂O)(MeOH)}(DMF)₃}_n (1, TATAB^3- = 4,4′,4′′-s-triazine-1,3,5-triyltri-p-aminobenzoate), with considerable biocompatibility was synthesized by reaction of the Ca(NO₃)₂ and the H₃TATAB ligand in DMF/MeOH solution. Nanostructure 1 can also be prepared by sonochemical process at ambient temperature. Nitrogen adsorption measurements revealed the presence of micropores as well as moderately high BET surface areas in the activated nanostructured 1 (1a). The incorporation of the drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) into 1a was 38.6 wt% per gram of 1a. 5-FU is released in a highly controlled and progressive fashion with 88.7% of the drug released after 72 h. The CCK8 assay was performed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of 5-FU@1a on NCI-H292 and NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells, and the transwell assay was conducted to observe the migration and invasion ability of cancer cells after 5-FU@1a treatment. The Annexin V-FITC/PI assay was carried out to evaluate the level of cancer cell apoptosis. The results above indicate 5-FU@1a has excellent anticancer activity in vitro. The in vivo xenograft model was applied, and the results suggested 5-FU@1a could reduce the volume and the weight of the tumor in vivo.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Metal-organic framework
• Ca(II) complex
• nanostructure
• 5-FU delivery
• cancer cell
• proliferation
• migration
• invasion
• apoptosis
• xenograft model

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Project of Inner Mongolia University for the Nationalities (Nos. NMDYB1723 and NMDYB17168).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).