the past decade has proven the effectiveness of curcumin as an
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-arthritic [5,
6]. Its hydroxy groups are for antioxidant activity and methoxy groups
are for anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. Curcumin
has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, as well as
in food coloring. Although there are different reports and opinions
about the therapeutic benefits of curcumin, researchers should be
careful because it is an unstable chemical [7]. It is insoluble in
water but dissolves easily in solvents such as ethanol, acetone and
methanol [8]. The only limiting factor in the use of this substance
is its low solubility and low stability in the body. Curcumin is
difficult to dissolve in water and is highly sensitive to changes in
body pH. In addition, its absorption through the gastrointestinal tract
and in acidic environments is very low and after consuming it, the liver
destroys a high amount of it [9]. Therefore, drug delivery systems
based on nanotechnology, due to their potential characteristics and
other unique properties, nanoparticles change the pharmacokinetics of
the drug and also greatly improve the life of the drug in the
bloodstream and the therapeutic properties of the drug. A group of
nanoparticles is porous metal-organic framework (MOF) materials that
synthesized in various types and considered by researchers due to
various applications such as gas storage and separation, catalyst,
sensor and drug storage and release [10-18]. Therefore, the
metal-organic framework can be used in applications such as drug
absorption due to their high specific surface area and porosity. Among
the porous nanoparticles of the metal-organic framework, magnetic
metal-organic framework have received great attention in recent decades.
Magnetic metal-organic framework are crystalline and porous materials
and structure consist of metal clusters, organic ligands, and magnetic
nanoparticles [19-21]. The metal ions of the co-ordination centers
and ligands are also the link between the metal centers and the magnetic
particles. Different metal-organic frameworks have been used to absorb
and interact with drugs. For example, Dong et al. synthesized and
characterized the metal-organic framework (UiO-66) based on Zn and Hf by
the macro method. They used the synthesized metal-organic framework as
an adsorbent for the drug curcumin and achieved an absorption capacity
of more than 450 mg g-1 for each [14]. Prince et.
al. synthesized the metal-organic framework (Ga-BDC) to absorb the drug
curcumin. They first synthesized and identified the desired
metal-organic framework by microwave method and finally, to investigate
the application of this metal-organic framework, it was used as an
adsorbent for the drug curcumin [22]. Naseh et al. used a magnetic
nanocomposite (FeNi3/SiO2/CuS) to absorb
and interact with the drug Metronidazole, which is an antibiotic and
after examining the effective parameters of cysteine and isotherms,
adsorption is studied. They found that the optimal conditions for
absorbing metronidazole is at pH = 7, room temperature and 180 minutes
[23]. Maggie et.al. used magnetic metal-organic framework absorbers
(Fe3O4/HKUST-1) to absorb the
fluoroquinolone antibiotics. They first synthesized and identified the
magnetic metal-organic framework
(Fe3O4/HKUST-1) by co-precipitation.
Finally, to investigate the application of this synthesized magnetic
metal-organic framework, they used it as an adsorbent of
fluoroquinolones and studied isothermal and kinetic studies [24].
However, no report has been published on the synthesis and use of the
magnetic metal-organic nanocomposite
(NiFe2O4@SiO2@HKUST-1)
to absorb the drug curcumin. Therefore, the aim of this project is to
synthesize and identify the magnetic metal-organic framework
nanocomposite
(NiFe2O4@SiO2@HKUST-1)
with different weight ratios of nickel ferrite to silica substrate and
study their application in the process of uptake and drug interaction of
curcumin (Table 1). The next step is to investigate the type of
nanocomposite and suitable magnetic metal-organic framework as a better
adsorbent and also to find effective parameters for optimal adsorption
and study conditions of isothermal and kinetic adsorption.
Table 1: Specifications of the drug curcumin.