Synthesis and characterization of α-Fe2O3 nanoplates/aluminum fumarate metal-organic framework nanosheets as a nanocarrier for anticancer drug

α-Fe2O3 nanoplates/Aluminum Fumarate metal-organic framework (α-Fe2O3/AlFu) nanocarriers were successfully synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method and used as a drug delivery system (DDS). 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) as an anticancer drug was incorporated into the nanocarriers through plunging in the drug solution (5-Fu/α-Fe2O3/AlFu). The developed nanocarriers, including AlFu, α-Fe2O3/AlFu, and 5-Fu/α-Fe2O3/AlFu, were well-characterized which confirmed their successful synthesis. The electron microscopy images indicated that the flower shape of AlFu MOF with an average diameter of 500 nm was decorated with the α-Fe2O3 nanoplates. The flower of AlFu was formed by some nanosheets with a diameter of 20 nm. The average diameter of the nanoplates of α-Fe2O3 was about 200 nm. The α-Fe2O3 nanoplates fell apart from the AlFu flower and were located on the nanosheets of AlFu. The nanocarriers with high surface areas were found to be proper support for loading the 5-Fu drug. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) results revealed that 5-Fu/α-Fe2O3/AlFu nanocarriers retained superparamagnetic properties when embedded with α-Fe2O3 nanoplates. Results represent the better loading efficiency of the α-Fe2O3/AlFu nanocarriers (65 %) compared to its components. To demonstrate the efficiency of 5-Fu/α-Fe2O3/AlFu as novel nanocarriers for controlled release of 5-Fu, in-vitro drug delivery tests were carried out in a simulated normal (pH = 7.4 and T = 37.4 °C) and tumor (pH = 5 and T = 42 °C) tissues’ environment. It was shown that low drug release (59.8 %) occurred at neutral pH and that more than 88.8 % of the loaded drug was released at the condition of cancer cells. Temperature and pH stimulate 5-Fu release from nanocarriers. Under cancer cells conditions, the release kinetic follows the Weibull distribution model, while in normal cells conditions, the Korsmeyer-Peppas model is used. Notably, the MTT test established that the α-Fe2O3/AlFu nanocarriers have no toxicity against BT-20 breast cancer cells. •α-Fe2O3/AlFu nanocarrier was synthesized through hydrothermal method.•5-Fluorouracil anticancer drug was loaded into α-Fe2O3/AlFu via plunging in the drug solution.•The flower shape of AlFu turn to nanosheet shape in presence of α-Fe2O3 nanoplate.•The α-Fe2O3/AlFu showed good loading efficiency for drug (65 %) compared to than its components.•The 5-Fu/α-Fe2O3/AlFu attained a prolonged and sustained drug release.