Postsynthetic Modifications of Iron-Carboxylate Nanoscale Metal−Organic Frameworks for Imaging and Drug Delivery

Fe(III)-carboxylate nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs) with the MIL-101 structure were synthesized using a solvothermal technique with microwave heating. The approximately 200 nm particles were characterized using a variety of methods, including SEM, PXRD, nitrogen adsorption measurements, TGA, and EDX. By replacing a percentage of the bridging ligand (terephthalic acid) with 2-amino terephthalic acid, amine groups were incorporated into the framework to provide sites for covalent attachment of biologically relevant cargoes while still maintaining the MIL-101 structure. In proof-of-concept experiments, an optical contrast agent (a BODIPY dye) and an ethoxysuccinato-cisplatin anticancer prodrug were…