A biocompatible drug controlled release system based on β-cyclodextrin crosslinked magnetic lactose/ZIF-8 metal-organic frameworks for cancer treatment

Natural saccharides (Chitosan, Lactose, alginate, and β-cyclodextrin) have recently attracted much attention from researchers as drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. In this regard, for the first time, we designed a new targeted carrier based on magnetic lactose-modified ZIF-8 metal-organic frameworks crosslinked with β-cyclodextrin (M-Lactose@ZIF-8-β-CD) for the pH-responsive controlled release of anticancer drugs, hydrophilic doxorubicin (DOX), and hydrophobic curcumin (CUR) to MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The encapsulation efficiency of M-Lactose@ZIF-8-β-CD was found to be 95.16 % for DOX and 65.01 % for CUR. The in vitro release studies showed a pH-responsive controlled release of DOX and CUR from M-Lactose@ZIF-8-β-CD at pH 5, which confirmed the performance of the prepared carrier in the cancerous microenvironments. The release mechanism of both drugs was well described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas and Fickian diffusion. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity, hemolysis, and antioxidant investigations clearly showed that the prepared M-Lactose@ZIF-8-β-CD carriers had good biocompatibility, high blood compatibility, and excellent antioxidant activity due to the presence of natural saccharides in carriers. Based on these findings, the M-Lactose@ZIF-8-β-CD can be applied as a promising targeted co-drug delivery carrier for cancer therapy. [Display omitted] •A β-CD crosslinked magnetic lactose/ZIF-8 MOFs (M-Lactose@ZIF-8-β-CD) was prepared.•The prapared nanocomposite was applied for the pH controlled release of DOX and CUR to breast cancer cells.•The resulting carrier exhibited good biocompatibility, good antioxidant activity, and high blood compatibility.