# Iron MOF nanoparticles for drug delivery

> Nanoparticles of MIL-100(Fe), an iron(III) trimesate with mesoporous cages, soak up large amounts of drugs that are hard to formulate, such as busulfan, the antiviral AZT triphosphate, cidofovir and doxorubicin. A PEG coat can be added for longer circulation. The particles release their cargo over time, break down to iron and trimesic acid, and the iron makes them visible by MRI.

- Page: https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/metal-organic-frameworks/mil-100-fe-nanoparticles-drug-delivery
- Open in the LabCanvas editor (LabCanvas account): https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?template=mil100-nanomof-drug-delivery
- Updated: 2026-10-14
- Category: Metal–organic frameworks
- Method: Drug delivery, bottom-up
- Starting materials: An iron(III) source and trimesic acid (H₃BTC) in water
- Product: MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles: iron(III) trimesate with mesoporous cages, loaded with drug and optionally PEG-coated
- Key result: High payloads of challenging drugs, controlled release, low toxicity and MRI contrast (Horcajada et al. 2010)
- Figure: 1920 × 1080 px, 87 editable layers (17 generated objects with settings)

## Steps

1. **Synthesis**: Iron(III) and trimesic acid in water, hydrothermal (Horcajada et al. 2007), or with microwave heating for nanoparticles
2. **Framework**: Fe₃O trimers and trimesate in the MTN net of MIL-100: cages about 25 and 29 Å across (Férey et al. 2004)
3. **Loading**: Particles soaked in drug solution: busulfan, AZT-TP, cidofovir, doxorubicin (Horcajada et al. 2010)
4. **Coating**: PEG on the surface for longer circulation
5. **In the body**: Controlled release; the framework degrades to iron and trimesate; iron gives MRI contrast (Horcajada et al. 2010)

## Strengths

- Very high payloads in mesoporous cages
- Biodegradable, iron-based
- Imaging and therapy in one particle

## Limitations

- Stability in phosphate-rich biological media limits circulation
- Particle size and surface must be controlled for each use

## Uses

- Anticancer and antiviral drug delivery
- MRI-traceable carriers (theranostics)

## References

1. Horcajada et al., “Porous metal–organic-framework nanoscale carriers as a potential platform for drug delivery and imaging”, Nat. Mater. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2608 (primary)
2. Horcajada et al., “Synthesis and catalytic properties of MIL-100(Fe), an iron(III) carboxylate with large pores”, Chem. Commun. 2007. https://doi.org/10.1039/b704325b (method origin)
3. Férey et al., “A Hybrid Solid with Giant Pores Prepared by a Combination of Targeted Chemistry, Simulation, and Powder Diffraction”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200460592 (further reading)
4. Horcajada et al., “Metal–Organic Frameworks as Efficient Materials for Drug Delivery”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200601878 (further reading)

Credit: After Horcajada et al., Nat. Mater. 2010 (doi:10.1038/nmat2608), Chem. Commun. 2007 (doi:10.1039/b704325b), Angew. Chem. 2006 (doi:10.1002/anie.200601878); Férey et al., Angew. Chem. 2004 (doi:10.1002/anie.200460592). Release schematic.

## Questions

**What does the “Iron MOF nanoparticles for drug delivery” template show?** Nanoparticles of MIL-100(Fe), an iron(III) trimesate with mesoporous cages, soak up large amounts of drugs that are hard to formulate, such as busulfan, the antiviral AZT triphosphate, cidofovir and doxorubicin. A PEG coat can be added for longer circulation. The particles release their cargo over time, break down to iron and trimesic acid, and the iron makes them visible by MRI.

**What are the steps shown in “Iron MOF nanoparticles for drug delivery”?** 1. Synthesis: Iron(III) and trimesic acid in water, hydrothermal (Horcajada et al. 2007), or with microwave heating for nanoparticles. 2. Framework: Fe₃O trimers and trimesate in the MTN net of MIL-100: cages about 25 and 29 Å across (Férey et al. 2004). 3. Loading: Particles soaked in drug solution: busulfan, AZT-TP, cidofovir, doxorubicin (Horcajada et al. 2010). 4. Coating: PEG on the surface for longer circulation. 5. In the body: Controlled release; the framework degrades to iron and trimesate; iron gives MRI contrast (Horcajada et al. 2010).

**What are the starting materials and the product?** Starting materials: An iron(III) source and trimesic acid (H₃BTC) in water. Product: MIL-100(Fe) nanoparticles: iron(III) trimesate with mesoporous cages, loaded with drug and optionally PEG-coated.

**Which papers is “Iron MOF nanoparticles for drug delivery” based on?** Horcajada et al., “Porous metal–organic-framework nanoscale carriers as a potential platform for drug delivery and imaging”, Nat. Mater. 2010 (doi:10.1038/nmat2608); Horcajada et al., “Synthesis and catalytic properties of MIL-100(Fe), an iron(III) carboxylate with large pores”, Chem. Commun. 2007 (doi:10.1039/b704325b); Férey et al., “A Hybrid Solid with Giant Pores Prepared by a Combination of Targeted Chemistry, Simulation, and Powder Diffraction”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004 (doi:10.1002/anie.200460592); Horcajada et al., “Metal–Organic Frameworks as Efficient Materials for Drug Delivery”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006 (doi:10.1002/anie.200601878).

**Can I edit the “Iron MOF nanoparticles for drug delivery” template?** Yes. Open it in the LabCanvas editor: all 87 layers are editable, including 17 generated objects (structures, plots, equipment) with their own settings. Change the text, colours and layout, then export PNG, TIFF, SVG or PDF.

**Do I need an account to use this template?** Not to view it here. To open and edit it, sign in to LabCanvas or create a free account (the free plan keeps one design of each kind). Downloading the figure is part of LabCanvas Pro (US$19 a month or US$199 a year).