Design and In Vitro Evaluation of Fluorescent MOF-Core CaCO₃-PEI-FA Shell Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy of Laryngeal Cancer Cells

Laryngeal cancer, a common malignant respiratory tumor, is primarily treated through surgery. However, challenges such as recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance persist. In recent years, multifunctional drug delivery systems (DDS) based on nanoparticles have shown great potential in improving drug loading and release. We developed a biocompatible core-shell nanoparticle system with a zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF) as the core, named CP1. The shell, composed of polyethyleneimine (PEI), folic acid, and calcium carbonate, forms a composite called CaCO 3 -PEI-FA. This system enhances biocompatibility and increases the efficacy of biomedical applications. Encapsulating CP1 within the CaCO 3 -PEI-FA shell allows for the targeted delivery of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) to laryngeal cancer cells (Hep-2), resulting in the CaCO 3 -PEI-FA@CP1@DOX system. The CaCO 3 -PEI-FA composite exhibits strong fluorescence with a peak around 350 nm, confirming successful synthesis and demonstrating its potential as a bioimaging probe. Importantly, the nanoparticle system without DOX showed low toxicity to normal human skin fibroblasts (HSF). In vitro cytology experiments revealed a 38% inhibition rate of Hep-2 cells after 24 h, highlighting the nanocomposite’s significant potential in inhibiting laryngeal cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis, underscoring its promise in targeted laryngeal cancer therapy.