Functionalization of ZIF-8 Nanoparticles for Efficient Delivery of 4-Aminoantipyrine and Apoptosis Induction in Breast Cancer Cells

In the current study, a bioactive molecule 4-aminoantipyrine (4AAP) was enfolded with a metal oxide framework known as the Zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF-8) for efficient drug delivery in breast cancer cells. The binding capacity of 4-aminoantipyrine with the AKT protein was first evaluated using an in silico molecular docking technique, and it showed a score of − 7.6 kcal/mol. Powder XRD was used to analyze the crystalline state of the ZIF-8 and 4AAP loaded ZIF-8, and FT-IR spectroscopy was used to look at the functional groups that were present. SEM and TEM analysis were utilized to detect the monodispersed rhombic dodecahedral of the produced nanoparticles, while EDAX examination was employed to assess the components encompassed in the nanoparticles. ZIF-8 and 4AAP@ZIF-8’s particle size and stability were exposed by DLS and Zeta potential. The drug loading capability of ZIF-8 was investigated, as well as the drug release efficiency of ZIF-8 for the administration of 4AAP under varied pH conditions was observed. Cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species and migration ability of 4AAP-loaded ZIF8 nanoparticles were studied through in vitro techniques. After the 24 h treatment, 4AAP@ZIF-8 exhibited an IC₅₀ dosage of 51.45 µg/mL in MCF-7 cells and 125 µg/mL in MDA-MB-231 and the IC₅₀ concentration showed minimal effects on HEK293 cells. Overall, our findings demonstrated that ZIF-8 allows for the targeted release of loaded 4AAP, and 4AAP@ZIF-8 triggered cell death, apoptosis and inhibition of cell migration in MCF-7 cells, implying potential treatment options for breast cancer.