In Vitro Studies of Fe3O4‐ZIF‐8 Core–Shell Nanoparticles Designed as Potential Theragnostics

Theragnostics represent a combination of therapy and diagnosis within one system. Herein, Fe3O4-ZIF-8 core-shell nanoparticles are developed and suggested as candidates for theragnostic applications in cancer treatment. A drug loaded metal-organic framework ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework-8) represents the therapeutic tool, while the Fe(3)O(4)core is included to enable the material visualization by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A reliable synthesis of Fe3O4-ZIF-8 core-shell nanoparticles of an average size below 100 nm is reported. The nanoparticles are characterized by FT-IR, TGA, XRPD, TEM, STEM-EDS, DLS, ICP-OES, CHN-elemental analysis, SQUID measurements, and MRI. Moreover, their chemical stability and in vitro cytotoxicity against fibroblast and selected cancer cell lines are evaluated. As a model drug, arsenic trioxide-a promising anticancer drug-is used. The drug release can be triggered by a pH change from 7.4 to 6.0 and the nanoparticles can be visualized by MRI in vitro, thus a potential theragnostic agent for cancer treatment is developed.