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.