Turn-on-off sensing of thiamine and Fe ions and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells by micro and nanorods of trimesic acid and L-ornithine linked copper/zinc bimetallic metal organic framework.

An imbalance in the thiamine-Fe relationship in human body could potentially affect neurological health and can cause cancer. Hence it is important to monitor and detect thiamine and Fe ions simultaneously. Here, a dual turn-on-off sensing of thiamine and Fe ions using copper‑zinc bimetallic MOF (Cu/Zn BMOF) fluorescent probe is reported. The BMOF was synthesized with trimesic acid (BTC) and L-ornithine hydrochloride (ORN) linkers by various methods in aqueous medium and their structure, photophysical properties and thermal stability were compared with the corresponding monometallic MOFs. The Cu/Zn BMOF demonstrated excellent fluorescence turn-on-off sensing towards the detection of thiamine and Fe ions with a LOD = 5.6 μM each. The probe was further employed for the detection of thiamine in vitamin tablets and Fe ions in iron tonics and tap water samples with excellent % recovery. The efficacy of Cu/Zn BMOF towards biomedical application was also established by studying the in vitro cell apoptosis of A549, lung cancer. Cell apoptosis investigations showed that the combined effect of Cu/Zn metal ions in the BMOF was able to cause cell wall disruption followed by increased ROS level causing mitochondrial dysfunction leading to cell death. The in vivo acute toxicity of the Cu/Zn BMOF was carried out in mice and the results of hematological and biochemical analysis for seven days and two weeks showed no cytotoxic and hepatotoxicity. The histopathological analysis also showed no accumulation of Cu/ZnBMOF in the organs and no damages have occurred to the organs.