Chitosan coated MOF/GO nanohybrid as a co-anticancer drug delivery vehicle: Synthesis, characterization, and drug delivery application

Abstract

In the current research work, at first, aluminum-succinic acid-based metal-organic framework (Al-MOF) was synthesized in the presence of graphene oxide (GO) via a green procedure (Al-MOF/GO). The fabricated Al-MOF/GO loaded about 78.4% and 65.7% of 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and doxorubicin (DOX) (DOX@5-Fu@Al-MOF/GO). Then the DOX@5-Fu@Al-MOF/GO was encapsulated with chitosan (CS) as a biocompatible and pH-sensitive coat (CS/DOX@5-Fu@Al-MOF/GO). The observed pH-dependent drug release pattern could be approved the positive role of CS having abundant amine functional groups in its structure. The in vitro experimental drug release results followed the first-order and Higuchi kinetic models respectively for 5-Fu and DOX. The biodegradation and swelling tests respectively exhibited a pH-sensitive swelling profile and degradation of 71.2% of CS/DOX@5-Fu@Al-MOF/GO after 30 days which could be attributed to the CS coat. In sum outcome of this research work showed that the CS shell not only leads to the biodegradability and biocompatibility of the system but also leads to the release of anticancer drugs to a greater extent at pH 5.0, suggesting its potential for local cancer therapy.