Abstracts

Cancer treatment remains a formidable hurdle in medicine, prompting exploration into innovative materials like Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for drug delivery and up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for bioimaging. This study aimed to develop a core-shell material using NaYF4:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺ up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNP) modified with polyacrylic acid (PAA) and ZIF-8, evaluating their potential for controlled antitumor drug release. Physicochemical analyses confirmed unchanged MOF and UCNP structures post core-shell formation. Luminescence spectra revealed emission in green and red regions, respectively, upon excitation at 980 nm by Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions. UCNP @ZIF-8 particles had an average size of 75 nm with a 20 nm-thick ZIF-8 shell and encapsulation efficiency of 68% for doxorubicin. Notably, drug release was significantly higher in acidic (PBS pH 5.0) and laser-stimulated (980 nm; 5 min; 0.8W/cm²) conditions compared to neutral medium (PBS pH 7.4) without laser, indicating the influential role of laser in enhancing drug release. This suggests potential for targeted drug delivery and tumor microenvironment-responsive release. In vitro assays showed cell viability above 70% in MCF-7 and MCF10A cell lines at 0.1 mg. mL^-1 concentration after 48 h incubation, confirming UCNP@MOF potential as theranostic materials, with reduced viability post 980 nm laser stimulation. Laser application led to decreased cell density, more detached circular structures, and cell shrinkage, indicating enhanced cell death. In conclusion, multifunctional UCNP@MOF materials hold promise for cancer treatment and imaging, with laser stimulation significantly augmenting drug release efficacy.