Magnetic nanoscale metal–organic frameworks for magnetically aided drug delivery and photodynamic therapy

Magnetic nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (M-NMOFs) were employed for the magnetically-aided co-delivery of chemotherapy and photosensitizer drugs to cancer cells. A chemotherapy drug doxorubicin and a photosensitizer drug methylene blue were co-encapsulated within iron carboxylate M-NMOFs, from which both the drugs were found to be released in a sustained manner. The superparamagnetic nature of these M-NMOFs allowed magnetically-aided delivery to cancer cells in vitro. Cytotoxicity studies revealed enhanced toxicity of the co-encapsulated nanoformulation when compared to equivalent dosages of mono-encapsulated nanoformulations or free drugs. The therapeutic potential of the dual drug loaded nanoformulations was further enhanced upon magnetically-aided delivery to the cells. Thus, the combination of magnetic targeting, light-activated therapy and drug delivery promises site-specific and externally controlled therapy of cancer.