CELLULAR DELIVERY AND RETENTION OF PHOTOFRIN II: THE EFFECTS OF INTERACTION WITH HUMAN PLASMA PROTEINS

The absorbance and fluorescence spectra of Photofrin II (PII) in the presence of albumin, globulins and lipoproteins from human plasma show that all of these proteins induce a degree of disaggregation of PII material. In addition, there are substantial rearrangements in the distribution of different fractions contained in PII and their binding to the protein. It is shown that these rearrangements have considerable impact on the uptake of PII by cultured cells and the ensuing retention of the drug in the cells. The information on the contribution of fluorescing and non-fluorescing components of PII in the cells was obtained by measuring first the PII fluorescence in suspensions of live cells, followed by chemical extraction of porphyrin material from the same cells. The interaction of PII with low density lipoproteins resulted in markedly lower levels of PII material retained in the cells, compared to protein-free drug exposure. Somewhat better but still inferior PII retention was observed with high density lipoproteins. The samples with very low density lipoproteins showed increased uptake of PII, but the subsequent retention of the drug was low, so that the remaining amount of the drug was not much different than in protein-free samples. The strongest inhibition of PII uptake was seen with albumin, with ensuing retention of PII not significantly different than in protein-free samples. The best retention of PII was observed with globulins, with approx. 25% higher total drug content retained in the cells after long-term clearance relative to protein-free samples.     

Time-gated fluorescence spectroscopy of porphyrin derivatives and aluminium phthalocyanine incorporated in vivo in a murine ascitic tumour model.

The effect of systemic administration on drug uptake at cellular level was evaluated using time-gated fluorescence spectroscopy performed on a murine ascitic tumour model. Mice bearing L1210 leukaemia were injected intraperitoneally or intravenously with 25 mg per kg body weight hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD), 12.5 mg per kg body weight photofrin II (PII), 25 or 5 mg per kg body weight disulphonated aluminium phthalocyanine (AlS2Pc). Every 2 h and for up to 22 or 30 h, mice were sacrificed, leukaemic cells extracted from the peritoneum, washed, and resuspended in buffer for fluorescence measurements. HpD and PII emission spectra were almost identical 12 h after intraperitoneal injection with main peaks at 630 nm and no appreciable changes afterwards. In the first 12 h, the PII fluorescence spectrum was constant, while in the case of HpD a shoulder at 615 nm was detectable. Similar fluorescence behaviour was observed after intravenous administration of porphyrin derivatives. These results seem to confirm that the tumour localizing fraction is the part actually retained by the cells. The AlS2Pc spectrum peaked at 685 nm and did not change in any of our experiments. AlS2Pc is incorporated more rapidly with respect to porphyrins, as was clearly observed in the case of intravenous administration, where the AlS2Pc fluorescence was readily detectable after 2 h, whereas the PII emission became apparent only after 4-6 h.     

LOVASTATIN POTENTIATES THE PHOTOCYTOTOXIC EFFECT OF PHOTOFRIN II DELIVERED TO HT29 HUMAN COLONIC ADENOCARCINOMA CELLS BY LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN

A 24 h preculture of HT29–18human colonic adenocarcinoma cells with the sterol synthesis inhibitor lovastatin at concentrations of 0.1-0.5 μM markedly increased the photocytotoxic effect of photofrin II delivered to cells by low density lipoproteins. Under the same conditions, LDL binding and photofrin II (PII) uptake by HT29 cells increased about 1.8-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. These results suggest that hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors could be useful for potentiating the photodynamic therapy of tumors by PII.     

PHOTOINDUCED DEGRADATION AND MODIFICATION OF PHOTOFRIN II IN CELLS in vitro

Abstract— Human cells of the line NHIK 3025 were incubated with Photofrin II (PII) and exposed to light. Fluorescence- and absorption spectra of PII in the cells were measured. Light exposure resulted in a degradation of PII in the cells and changes in the shape of the fluorescence spectra. These changes are probably partly due to a photochemical modification of PII and to a relocalization of PII in the cells. Notably, a destruction of binding sites for PII on or close to proteins was caused by the light exposure. The rate of the light-induced decay of the porphyrin fluorescence intensity was only slightly increasing with the PII concentration, indicating that each porphyrin molecule is mainly degraded by photoproducts originating from itself. On the other hand, the rate of the degradation of porphyrin binding sites on the proteins increased with increasing PII concentrations.
The excitation spectrum of PII in cells has a peak at285–290 nm attributed to energy transfer from proteins to porphyrins located close to the proteins. The intensity of this peak relative to the intensity of the Soret band increases with decreasing porphyrin concentrations. This might indicate that some of the binding sites close to proteins have a higher affinity for the porphyrin than binding sites at longer distances from the proteins.     

PHOTOSENSITIZING EFFICIENCIES, TUMOR- and CELLULAR UPTAKE OF DIFFERENT PHOTOSENSITIZING DRUGS RELEVANT FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY OF CANCER

Abstract Several parameters of the following dyes, all relevant as sensitizers for photochemotherapy of cancer, have been studied: Photofrin II (PII), hematoporphyrin (HP)-di-hexyl-ether, HP-di-ethyl-ether, tetra (3-hydroxyphenyl) porphyrin, (3THPP), tetraphenyl porphine tetrasulphonate (TPPS₄) aluminium phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (A1PCTS), aluminium phthalocyanine (A1PC), chlorin e, (Chi e₆) and merocyanine 540 (MC 540). The following parameters and features of these dyes were studied: (1) Tumor uptake in C3H mouse mammary carcinomas. (2) Skin/tumor concentration ratio in the same animal system. (3) Triton X-114/H₂0 partition coefficients at different pH-values. (4) Uptake of the dyes by human cells of the line NHIK 3025. (5) Relative fluorescence quantum yields of the dyes bound to cells. (6) Absorption-, fluorescence-excitation- and fluorescence-emission spectra of the cell-bound dyes. (7) Relative quantum yields for photoinactivation of cells after 18 h incubation with the dyes. (8) Relative quantum yields of photodegradation of the singlet oxygen trap 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) in cells after 18 h incubation with the dyes. The following main conclusions were drawn: (1) 3THPP was the best and most selective tumor localizer of the dyes tested, followed by AIPCTS, TPPS₄, PII and Chi e.,. (2) The Triton X-114/H₂0 partition coefficient of most of the dyes decreased with increasing pH. (3) The cellular uptake of the dyes (18 h incubation in medium with 3% serum) increased with increasing Triton X-114/H₂0 partition coefficient. (4) HP-di-hexyl-ether had the highest quantum yields both for photoinactivation of cells and degradation of cell-bound DPBF, followed by the other lipophilic porphyrins and Chi e₆. The water-soluble dyes TPPS₄ and AIPCTS had quantum yields of the order of ten times lower than those of the lipophilic porphyrins. (5) There was a clear correlation between the quantum yields for cell-inactivation and those for photodegradation of DPBF, suggesting that the same reactive photoinduced species is involved in both processes. This suggestion was strengthened by the observation that DPBF reduced the quantum yield of cell inactivation. Thus, all the tested dyes seem to act via a type II process. (6) All of the dyes, even the water-soluble TPPS₄ and AIPCTS, are aggregated in aqueous solutions, and the cells bind both monomers and aggregates. (7) A significant fraction of the cell-bound dyes was located close to tryptophan-containing proteins. (8) Cell-bound Chi e,₆ had the highest fluorescence quantum yield of the dyes.     

THE PHOTODEGRADATION OF PORPHYRINS IN CELLS CAN BE USED TO ESTIMATE THE LIFETIME OF SINGLET OXYGEN

NHIK 3025 cells were incubated with Photofrin II (PII) and/or tetra (3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (3THPP) and exposed to light at either 400 or 420 nm, i.e. at the wavelengths of the maxima of the fluorescence excitation spectra of the two dyes. The kinetics of the photodegradation of the dyes were studied. When present separately in the cells the two dyes are photodegraded with a similar quantum yield. 3THPP is degraded 3-6 times more efficiently by light quanta absorbed by the fluorescent fraction of 3THPP than by light quanta absorbed by the fluorescent fraction of PII present in the same cells. The distance diffused by the reactive intermediate, supposedly mainly 1O2, causing the photodegradation was estimated to be on the order of 0.01-0.02 micron, which corresponds to a lifetime of 0.01-0.04 microsecond of the intermediate in the cells. PII has binding sites at proteins in the cells as shown by an energy transfer band in the fluorescence excitation spectrum at 290 nm. During light exposure this band decays faster than the Soret band of PII under the present conditions. Photoproducts (1O2 etc.) generated at one binding site contribute significantly in the destruction of remote binding sites.     

Biodistribution of Photofrin II® and 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Induced Protoporphyrin IX in Normal Rat Bladder and Bladder Tumor Models: Implications for Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been considered as a potential therapy for superficial bladder carcinomas. Cutaneous photosensitivity and reduction of bladder capacity are the two well-known complications following systemic administration of the commonly used photosensitizer, Photofrin II® (PII). The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether intravesical. (i.b.) instillation of photosensitizers for PDT of bladder cancer might be a more suitable treatment method. Female Fischer rats were utilized to develop orthotopic and heterotopic bladder tumor models. Rats bearing orthotopic bladder tumors were treated either intravesically or intravenously with graded doses of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or PII. Normal rats received the same doses of ALA or PII. As well, rats bearing heterotopic tumor were studied for comparison. The biodistribution times (times allowed for tissue uptake and bioconversion following drug administration) were 2, 4 or 6 h. Porphyrin fluorescence intensities within tumor, urothelium, submucosa, bladder muscularis and abdominal muscle were quantitated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Following intravenous (i.v.) injection of ALA, tumor protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) levels peaked at 4 h and diminished by 6 h. The PpIX ratios of tumor-to-bladder mucosa, submucosa and muscle layers were 3:1, 5:1 and 8:1, respectively, 4 h following 1000 mg/kg ALA injection. After ALA instillation, the optimal biodistribution time appeared to be 4 h. Bladder instillation provided comparable tumor labeling with the i.v. route, but lost selectivity of PpIX accumulation between tumor and normal urothelium. The PpIX ratio of tumor-to-bladder muscularis was 5:1. After i.b. instillation of PII, porphyrin fluorescence was detected only within tumor and urothelium, while porphyrin fluorescence was mainly located in bladder submucosa following i.v. injection. Intravesical administration of ALA or PII might be feasible for PDT of superficial bladder cancers.     

Cellular uptake mediated off/on responsive near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles

Fluorescence imaging, utilizing molecular fluorophores, often acts as a central tool for the investigation of fundamental biological processes and offers huge future potential for human imaging coupled to therapeutic procedures. An often encountered limitation with fluorescence imaging is the difficulty in discriminating nonspecific background fluorophore emission from a fluorophore localized at a specific region of interest. This limits imaging to individual time points at which background fluorescence has been minimized. It would be of significant advantage if the fluorescence output could be modulated from off to on in response to specific biological events as this would permit imaging of such events in real time without background interference. Here we report our approach to achieve this for the most fundamental of cellular processes, i.e. endocytosis. We describe a new near-infrared off to on fluorescence switchable nanoparticle construct that is capable of switching its fluorescence on following cellular uptake but remains switched off in extracellular environments. This permits continuous real-time imaging of the uptake process as extracellular particles are nonfluorescent. The principles behind the fluorescence off/on switch can be understood by encapsulation of particles in cellular organelles which effect a microenvironmental change establishing a fluorescence signal.     

Carbon Dots (C‐dots) from Cow Manure with Impressive Subcellular Selectivity Tuned by Simple Chemical Modification

Improved cellular selectivity for nucleoli staining was achieved by simple chemical modification of carbon dots (C‐dots) synthesized from waste carbon sources such as cow manure (or from glucose). The C‐dots were characterized and functionalized (amine‐passivated) with ethylenediamine, affording amide bonds that resulted in bright green fluorescence. The new modified C‐dots were successfully applied as selective live‐cell fluorescence imaging probes with impressive subcellular selectivity and the ability to selectively stain nucleoli in breast cancer cell lineages (MCF‐7). The C‐dots were also tested in four other cellular models and showed the same cellular selection in live‐cell imaging experiments.     

A cell-penetrating protein designed for bimodal fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging

Multimodal imaging is a highly desirable biomedical application since it can provide complementary information from each imaging modality. We propose a protein engineering-based strategy for the construction of a bimodal probe for fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging. A recombinant protein was generated by the fusion of a supercharged green fluorescence protein (GFP³⁶⁺) with a lanthanide-binding tag (dLBT) that can stably bind two Gd³⁺ ions. The GFP³⁶⁺–dLBT fusion protein showed strong fluorescence and exhibited efficient contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging. This protein probe improves the MR relaxation more efficiently than Gd-DTPA (gadopentetate dimeglumine). The superior cell-penetrating activity of GFP³⁶⁺ allows the efficient cellular uptake of this fusion protein and it can thus be used as a cellular imaging probe. Dual imaging was conducted in vitro and in mice. This result indicates that the fusion of different functional domains is a feasible approach for making multi-modal imaging agents.     

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF PHTHALOCYANINES. XIII. THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN SERUM COMPONENTS ON THE in vitro UPTAKE AND PHOTODYNAMIC ACTIVITY OF ZINC PHTHALOCYANINE

Abstract— The effect of human serum components on the photodynamic activity of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) toward Chinese hamster fibroblasts (lineV–79) was studied. Photodynamic activities were correlated with cellular uptake of radiolabeled [⁶⁵Zn]ZnPc, which allowed corrections to be made for the amount of sensitizer present in the cells at the time of irradiation and to express photodynamic efficiences on a cellular dye concentration basis. All serum components, with the exception of high-density lipoproteins, inhibit uptake of ZnPc byV–79 cells, when compared to incubation of ZnPc with the same cells in serum-free medium. High-density lipoproteins increased ZnPc uptake by 23%, but the photodynamic efficiency corrected for the cellular ZnPc concentration was unaffected. Very low-density lipoprotein and globulins decreased ZnPc cell uptake but likewise did not affect the cellular photodynamic efficiency of the dye. In contrast low-density lipoprotein and albumin, while inhibiting ZnPc cell uptake, increased the cellular photodynamic efficiency of ZnPc, suggesting that these proteins facilitate localization of the dye at cellular targers sensitive to photodynamic damage and vital to cell survival. We conclude from these results that association of ZnPc with serum components can have important, and widely differing, effects on both degree of uptake and cellular distribution of the photosensitizer.     

Quantitative measurement of quantum dot uptake at the cell population level using microfluidic evanescent-wave-based flow cytometry

The intracellular uptake of nanoparticles (NPs) is an important process for molecular and cellular labeling, drug/gene delivery and medical imaging. The vast majority of investigations into NP uptake have been conducted using confocal imaging that is limited to observation of a small number of cells. Such data may not yield quantitative information about the cell population due to the tiny sample size and the potential heterogeneity. Flow cytometry is the technique of choice for studying cell populations with single cell resolution. Unfortunately, classic flow cytometry detects fluorescence from whole cells and does not shed light on subcellular dynamics. In this report, we demonstrate the use of microfluidics-based total internal reflection fluorescence flow cytometry (TIRF-FC) for examining initial quantum dot (QD) entry into cells and the associated subcellular movement at the single cell level with a rate of ～200 cells s(-1). Our cytometric tool allows extraction of quantitative data from a large cell population and reveals details about the QD transport in the periphery of the cell membrane (～100 nm deep into the cytosol). Our data indicate that the fluorescence density at the membrane vicinity decreases after initial QD dosage due to the decline in the density of QDs in the evanescent field and the transport into the cytosol is very rapid.     

CUTANEOUS PHOTOSENSITIZING AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE EFFECTS OF A SERIES OF TUMOR LOCALIZING PORPHYRINS

A series of tumor localizing porphyrins was evaluated with respect to their ability to elicit cutaneous photosensitivity and systemic immunosuppression, two of the most common side effects associated with photodynamic therapy. Using the murine ear swelling response as an indicator, it was found that all the non-metalloporphyrins caused cutaneous photosensitization. Immunosuppressive effects were noted using hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) and meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine if sensitization occurred immediately after photoirradiation, but none were evident using Photofrin II (PII) or meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine (TCPP). Subsequent studies indicated that PII and TCPP manifested a delayed type immunosuppression similar to that found following UVB photoirradiation. Manganese (III) meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine, a prototype magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, was also evaluated because of its reported demetallation in vivo. It was found to cause neither cutaneous photosensitivity nor immunosuppression.     

Direct Visualization of Amlodipine Intervention into Living Cells by Means of Fluorescence Microscopy

Amlodipine, a unique long-lasting calcium channel antagonist and antihypertensive drug, has weak fluorescence in aqueous solutions. In the current paper, we show that direct visualization of amlodipine in live cells is possible due to the enhanced emission in cellular environment. We examined the impact of pH, polarity and viscosity of the environment as well as protein binding on the spectral properties of amlodipine in vitro, and used quantum chemical calculations for assessing the mechanism of fluorescence quenching in aqueous solutions. The confocal fluorescence microscopy shows that the drug readily penetrates the plasma membrane and accumulates in the intracellular vesicles. Visible emission and photostability of amlodipine allow confocal time-lapse imaging and the drug uptake monitoring.     

Comparative analysis of foetal calf and human low density lipoprotein: relevance for pharmacodynamics of photosensitizers

The effects of differences in lipoprotein content on the distribution of the novel hydrophobic photosensitizer n-butyl-3-[18-(2-butylcarbamoyl-ethyl)-3,7,12,17-tetramethyl-18,13-divinyl-22,24-dihydro-porphin-2-yl]propionamide (PP-N-3) and haematoporphyrin ester (HpE), a relatively hydrophilic photosensitizer, in human (HS) and foetal calf sera (FCS), were investigated. The binding characteristics of human and foetal calf low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were characterised using a human fibroblast line (Vag 12). The uptake into cells of HpE and PP-N-3 was also examined. A comparison of the lipoprotein content, composition and receptor-binding characteristics of foetal calf and human serum was also carried out. LDL content was measured directly using sequential ultracentrifugation to isolate LDL. In our study, we found haematoporphyrin ester to bind to human very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the ratio 2:31:65. In the case of PP-N-3 this ratio was 56:10:33. As VLDL was not detected in foetal calf serum, only binding to LDL and HDL was observed. Using the sequential ultracentrifugation technique, foetal calf serum was found to contain LDL which in turn did bind to human LDL receptors. The uptake of PP-N-3 and HpE in the presence of low density lipoprotein from foetal calf serum (FC-LDL) was not significantly different to values observed in the presence of human serum low density lipoprotein (HS-LDL).     

Silver nanocube-enhanced far-red/near-infrared fluorescence of conjugated polyelectrolyte for cellular imaging

We present the study of silver nanocube (Ag NC)-enhanced fluorescence of a cationic conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) for far-red/near-infrared fluorescence cell imaging. Layer-by-layer self-assembly of polyelectrolytes on 78 nm Ag NCs is used to control CPE-metal distance and its effect on CPE fluorescence. The highest fluorescence enhancement factor (FEF) is obtained for Ag NCs with two bilayers, corresponding to a CPE-metal spacer thickness of ～6 nm. At the optimal excitation wavelength, the FEF is 13.8 with respect to the control silica nanoparticles (NPs). The fluorescent NPs are further used for cellular imaging studies. The CPE-loaded Ag NCs with two bilayers exhibit excellent image contrast, superior to the control of CPE-silica NP at a similar uptake efficiency. The viability test indicates low cytotoxicity of the CPE-loaded Ag NCs, rendering them as promising cell imaging agents.     

CARBON-14 LABELING AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE TUMOR-LOCALIZING DERIVATIVE OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN

Abstract— Carbon-14-labeled hematoporphyrin ([¹⁴C]HP) was synthesized by two methods, (i) Using an in vitro avian whole-blood system, [¹⁴C]protoheme was obtained biosynthetically by incorporating [⁴C]aminolevulinic acid into the porphyrin ring structure. Subsequently, the [¹⁴C]protoheme was converted to [⁴C]HP by standard procedures, (ii) By adopting several well-characterized chemical reactions, deuteroporphyrin was treated with [¹⁴C]acetyl chloride, giving [¹⁴C]diacetyl deuteroporphy-rin which was readily reduced and hydrolyzed to [¹⁴C]HP (with thecarbon–14 label on the hydroxyethyl side-chains). These two methods are simple and afford good yields of [¹⁴C]HP with moderate to high specific activities. The [¹⁴C]HP was then treated with acetic acid/sulfuric acid followed by sodium hydroxide to give [¹⁴C]HPD. Upon gel- and ultra-filtration, the [¹⁴C]HPD was enriched in the so-called tumor-localizing fraction of HPD, giving [¹⁴C]PII with specific activities of 0.4 Ci/mol (biosynthesis) and 10 Ci/mol (chemical synthesis). These [¹⁴C]PII preparations were equivalent with respect to chromatographic and spectrophotometric characteristics, as well as tumoricidal photodynamic activity in the DBA/2 Ha-DD mouse: SMT-F tumor system, to the unlabeled commercial product Photofrin^? II. The distribution of [¹⁴C]PII in mouse tissues was in close agreement to that previously reported, after adjustment for dose, for [¹⁴C]HPD biosynthetically labeled in vivo (Gomer and Dougherty, 1979), as well as for Photofrin^? II, where tissue levels were determined spectrophotometrically after extraction (Dougherty and Mang, unpublished).     

PHOTOBLEACHING OF PORPHYRINS USED IN PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THERAPY

Abstract— The development of an extraction procedure to quantitate dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE) concentration in tissues correlated to fluorescence measurements from instrumentation developed for in vivo fluorimetry was examined. In vivo fluorometric results from mouse mammary carcinoma (SMT-F) were calibrated against results of the chemical extraction assay quantitated spectrophotometrically. Fluorescence and drug extractable levels increase in a linear fashion with injected dose. Loss of porphyrin fluorescence (photobleaching) and intra-tumoral porphyrin level has been demonstrated both in vitro (NHIK cells) and in vivo (SMT-F tumor) during illumination with light following exposure to Hpd or DHE. This process is essentially independent of porphyrin tumor level in vivo and could lead to tumor protection at very low porphyrin levels. On the other hand, this photobleaching process which occurs concurrent with cellular inactivation and tissue damage due to the photodynamic process can be exploited to protect normal tissue during photodynamic therapy (PDT) and thus greatly enhance the therapeutic ratio. This has been demonstrated in patients undergoing PDT.     

聚丙烯微孔膜表面肝素化及其对低密度脂蛋白的吸附特性

为了赋予聚丙烯微孔膜(PPMM)选择性吸附低密度脂蛋白(LDL)的能力,发展了一种有效的PPMM表面共价固定肝素的方法.基于紫外引发丙烯酸的接枝聚合,通过碳二亚胺活化,以乙二胺为间隔臂,将肝素共价固定于PPMM表面,获得表面肝素化的PPMM.ATR-FTIR和XPS分析确证了修饰过程中膜表面基团及化学成分的变化.采用静...     

A facile preparation method for nanosized MOFs as a multifunctional material for cellular imaging and drug delivery

Tb-based metal-organic framework nanoparticles (Tb-MOF NPs) with good colloidal stability and stable fluorescence properties in an aqueous solution were prepared by a simple mechanical grinding of Tb-MOF with a biocompatible polymer surfactant (F127). The characteristic fluorescence property of Tb-MOF NPs allowed us to use this nanomaterial as a cell imaging probe. Efficient cellular uptake of Tb-MOF NPs apparently via an energy-dependent endocytosis was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. By taking advantage of the porous nature of the Tb-MOF NPs an anticancer drug (doxorubicin) was successfully loaded and delivered to kill cancer cells to demonstrate their usage as a drug delivery vehicle. This simple grinding method afforded a nanosized, multifunctional biomaterial that was used for cell imaging and drug delivery, and it can be extended to other MOFs to widen their applications.